Qp 


V 


THE 
CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 


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HE  KNELT  DOWN  BY  HER.      HE  RAISED  HER  BEAUTIFUL  HEAD. 
TO  ME,  MADEMOISELLE,  I  ENTREAT  YOU,"  CRIED  HE 


'SPEAK 


THE 

CHAMPDOCE 

MYSTERY 

A   Sequel   to   "Caught  in  the   Net" 

Translated  from  the   French  of 

EMILE  GABORIAU 


Illustrated  by 
JOHN    SLOAN 


Charles  Scribner*s  Sons 
New  York     ....     1913 


COFTKICHT,  I9I5,  BY 

CBAIOES  SCRIBNER'S  SONS 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.   A  Ducal  Monomaniac  .....      1 
II.   A  Dangerous  Acquaintance     ...    15 

ni.   A  Bold  Adventure 22 

rv.   A  Financial  Transaction  .      .      .  ■    .    27 

V.   A  Bad  Start 36 

VL   The  Count  De  Puymandour     ...    42 

VII.   An  Unlucky  Blow 62 

VIII.   The  Uttle  Glass  Bottle  ....    77 

IX.   The  Honor  of  the  Name  ....    97 

X.   A  Thunderbolt      .      .      .      .      .      .  116 

XI.   Marriage  Bells;  Funeral  Knells.      .  126 
XII.   "Rash  Word,  Rash  Deed"       .      .      .135 

XIII.  A  Scheme  of  Vengeance    ....  153 

XIV.  False  Friend,  Old  Lover  .      .      .      .161 

XV.  A  Stab  in  the  Dark    .      .      .      .      .  170 
XVI.    Husband  and  Lover     .      .      .      .      .  178 

XVII.    Blade  to  Blade 189 

V 


vi  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  FAGB 

XVIII.  The  Heir  of  Champdoce        .      .      .200 

XIX.   Mascarin  Speaks 207 

XX.   A  Sudden  Check 217 

XXI.  A  Melancholy  Masher   ....  232 

XXII.  A  Gentleman  in  Difficulties      .      .  238 

XXIII.  Ringing  the  Changes       ....  243 

XXIV.  The  Vanishing  Bills        .      .      .      .253 
XXV.   The  Spy 261 

XXVI.   Mascarin  Moves 270 

XXVII.   A  Cruel  Slur 275 

XXVIII.   The  Tempter 281 

XXIX.  The  Tafila  Copper  Mines,  Limited   .  293 

XXX.  The  Veiled  Portrait       .      .      .      .300 

XXXI.   Gaston's  Dilemma 307 

XXXII.   M.  Lecoq 317 

XXXIII.   Through  the  Air 332 

XXXrV.  The  Day  of  Reckoning    .      .      .      .340 

XXXV.  "Every  Man  to  His  Own  Place"      .  353 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


He  knelt  down  by  her.  He  raised  her  beautiful 
head.  "Speak  to  me,  mademoiselle,  I  entreat 
you,"  cried  he Frontispiece 

FACINQ 
PAGE 

He  clasped  his  hands  convulsively,  and  then  fell 
helplessly  backwards,  striking  his  head  against 
an  oaken  sideboard 98 

At  last  he  nerved  himself,  grasped  the  body,  and 

hurled  it  into  the  gaping  grave 194 

All  at  once  his  door  burst  open,  and  a  hurricane  of 

silks,  velvets,  feathers,  and  lace  whirled  in    .  308 


THE   CHAMPDOCE  MYSTERY 


CHAPTER  I. 

A  DUCAL  MONOMANIAC. 

The  traveller  who  wishes  to  go  from  Poitiers  to 
London  by  the  shortest  route  will  find  that  the  sim- 
plest way  is  to  "take  a  seat  in  the  stage-coach  which 
runs  to  Saumur;  and  when  you  book  your  place,  the 
polite  clerk  tells  you  that  you  must  take  your  seat 
punctually  at  six  o'clock.  The  next  morning,  there- 
fore, the  traveller  has  to  rise  from  his  bed  at  a  very 
early  hour,  and  make  a  hurried  and  incomplete  toilet, 
and  on  arriving,  flushed  and  panting,  at  the  office, 
discover  that  there  was  no  occasion  for  such  extreme 
haste. 

In  the  hotel  from  whence  the  coach  starts  every  one 
seems  to  be  asleep,  and  a  waiter,  whose  eyes  are 
scarcely  open,  wanders  languidly  about.  There  is  not 
the  slightest  good  in  losing  your  temper,  or  in  pouring 
out  a  string  of  violent  remonstrances.  In  a  small 
restaurant  opposite  a  cup  of  hot  coffee  can  be  pro- 
cured, and  it  is  there  that  the  disappointed  travellers 
congregate,  to  await  the  hour  when  the  coach  really 
makes  a  start. 

At  length,  however,  all  is  ready,  the  conductor  utters 
a  tremendous  execration,  the  coachman  cracks  his 
whip,  the  horses  spring  forward,  the  wheels  rattle,  and 

I 


2  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTpRY 

the  coach  is  off  at  last.  Whilst  the  conductor  smokes 
his  pipe  tranquilly,  the  passengers  gaze  out  of  the 
windows  and  admire  the  beautiful  aspect  of  the  sur- 
rounding country.  On  each  side  stretch  the  woods 
jind  fields  of  Bevron.  The  covers  are  full  of  game, 
which  has  increased  enormously,  as  the  owner  of  the 
property  has  never  allowed  a  shot  to  be  fired  since 
he  had  the  misfortune,  some  twenty  years  ago,  to 
kill  one  of  his  dependents  whilst  out  shooting.  On 
the  right  hand  side  some  distance  ofif  rise  the 
tower  and  battlements  of  the  Chateau  de  Mussidan. 
It  is  two  years  ago  since  the  Dowager  Countess  of 
Chevanche  died,  leaving  all  her  fortune  to  her  niece. 
Mademoiselle  Sabine  de  Mussidan.  She  was  a  kind- 
hearted  woman,  rough  and  ready  in  her  manner,  but 
very  popular  amongst  the  peasantry.  Farther  off,  on 
the  top  of  some  rising  ground,  appears  an  imposing 
structure,  of  an  ancient  style  of  architecture;  this  is 
the  ancient  residence  of  the  Dukes  of  Champdoce. 
The  left  wing  is  a  picturesque  mass  of  ruins ;  the  roof 
has  fallen  in,  and  the  mullions  of  the  windows  are 
dotted  with  a  thick  growth  of  clustering  ivy.  Rain, 
storm,  and  sunshine  have  all  done  their  work,  and 
painted  the  mouldering  walls  with  a  hundred  varied 
tints.  In  1840  the  inheritor  of  one  of  the  noblest  names 
of  France  resided  here  with  his  only  son.  The  name  of 
the  present  proprietor  was  Caesar  Guillaume  Duepair 
de  Champdoce.  He  was  looked  upon  both  by  the  gen- 
try and  peasantry  of  the  country  side  as  a  most  eccen- 
tric individual.  He  could  be  seen  any  day  wandering 
about,  dressed  in  the  most  shabby  manner,  and  wear- 
ing a  coat  that  was  frequently  in  urgent  need  ot  re- 
pair, a  leathern  cap  on  his  head,  wooden  shoes,  and 
a    stout   oaken   cudgel   in   his    hand.     In   winter   he 


A   DUCAL   MONOMANIAC  3 

supplemented  to  these  an  ancient  sheepskin  coat.  He 
was  sixty  years  of  age,  very  powerfully  built,  and 
possessing  enormous  strength.  The  expression  upon 
his  face  showed  that  his  will  was  as  strong  as  his 
thews  and  sinews.  Beneath  his  shaggy  eyebrows 
twinkled  a  pair  of  light-gray  eyes,  which  darkened 
when  a  fit  of  passion  overtook  him,  and  this  was  no 
unusual  occurrence. 

During  his  military  career  in  the  army  of  the  Conde, 
he  had  received  a  sabre  cut  across  his  cheek,  and  the 
cicatrice  imparted  a  strange  and  unpleasant  expres- 
sion to  his  face.  He  was  not  a  bad-hearted  man,  but 
headstrong,  violent,  and  tyrannical  to  a  degree.  The 
peasants  saluted  him  with  a  mixture  of  respect  and 
dread  as  he  walked  to  the  chapel,  to  which  he  was 
a  regular  attendant  on  Sundays,  with  his  son.  Dur- 
ing the  Mass  he  made  the  responses  in  an  audible 
voice,  and  at  its  conclusion  invariably  put  a  five-franc 
piece  into  the  plate.  This,  his  subscription  to  the 
newspaper,  and  the  sum  he  paid  for  being  shaved 
twice  each  week,  constituted  the  whole  of  his  outlay 
upon  himself.  He  kept  an  excellent  table,  however; 
plump  fowls,  vegetables  of  all  kinds,  and  the  most 
delicious  fruit  were  never  absent  from  it.  Everything, 
however,  that  appeared  upon  his  well-plenished  board 
was  the  produce  of  his  fields,  gardens,  or  woods.  The 
nobility  and  gentry  of  the  neighborhood  frequently 
invited  him  to  their  hospitable  tables,  for  they  looked 
upon  him  as  the  head  and  chief  of  the  nobility  of 
the  county;  but  he  always  refused  their  invitations, 
saying  plainly,  "  No  man  who  has  the  slightest  re- 
spect for  himself  will  accept  hospitalities  which  he  is 
not  in  a  position  to  return."  It  was  not  the  grinding 
clutch  of  poverty  that  drove  the  Duke  to  this  exercise 


4  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

of  severe  economy,  for  his  income  from  his  estates 
brought  him  in  fifty  thousand  francs  per  annum ;  and  it 
was  reported  that  his  investments  brought  him  in  as 
much  more.  As  a  matter  of  course,  therefore,  he  was 
looked  upon  as  a  miser,  and  a  victim  to  the  sordid 
vice  of  avarice. 

His  past  life  might,  in  some  degree,  offer  an  ex- 
planation of  this  conduct.  Born  in  1780,  the  Duke 
de  Champdoce  had  joined  the  band  of  emigrants 
which  swelled  the  ranks  of  Conde's  army.  An  im- 
placable opposer  of  the  Revolution,  he  resided,  dur- 
ing the  glorious  days  of  the  Empire,  in  London,  where 
dire  poverty  compelled  him  to  gain  a  livelihood  as  a 
fencing  master  at  the  Restoration.  He  came  back 
with  the  Bourbons  to  his  native  land,  and,  by  an  almost 
miraculous  chance,  was  put  again  in  possession  of 
his  ancestral  domains.  But  in  his  opinion  he  was 
living  in  a  state  of  utter  destitution  as  compared  to 
the  enormous  revenues  enjoyed  by  the  dead-and-gone 
members  of  the  Champdoce  family ;  and  what  pained 
him  more  was  to  see  rise  up  by  the  side  of  the  old 
aristocracy  a  new  race  which  had  attached  itself  to 
commerce  and  entered  into  business  transactions.  As 
he  gazed  upon  the  new  order  of  things,  the  man 
whose  pride  of  birth  iind  position  almost  amounted  to 
insanity,  conceived  the  project  to  which  he  deter- 
mined to  devote  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  im- 
agined that  he  had  discovered  a  means  by  which  he 
could  restore  the  ancient  house  of  Champdoce  to  all 
its  former  splendor  and  position.  "  I  can,"  said  he, 
"by  living  like  a  peasant  and  resorting  to  no  unnec- 
essary expense,  treble  my  capital  in  twenty  years ;  and 
if  my  son  and   my  grandson  will   only   follow   my 


A   DUCAL   MONOMANIAC  5 

example,  the  race  of  Champdoce  will  again  recover 
the  proud  position  that  it  formerly  held.  Faithful 
to  this  idea,  he  wedded,  in  1820,  although  his  heart 
was  entirely  untouched,  a  young  girl  of  noble  birth 
but  utterly  devoid  of  beauty,  though  possessed  of  a 
magnificent  dowry.  Their  union  was  an  extremely 
unhappy  one,  and  many  persons  did  not  hesitate  to 
accuse  the  Duke  of  treating  with  harshness  and  severity 
a  young  girl,  who,  having  brought  her  husband  five 
hundred  thousand  francs,  could  not  understand  why 
she  should  be  refused  a  new  dress  when  she  urgently 
needed  it.  After  twelve  months  of  inconceivable  un- 
happiness,  she  gave  birth  to  a  son  who  was  baptized 
Louis  Norbert,  and  six  months  afterwards  she  sank 
into  an  untimely  grave. 

The  Duke  did  not  seem  to  regret  his  loss  very  deeply. 
The  boy  appeared  to  be  of  a  strong  and  robust  consti- 
tution, and  his  mother's  dowry  would  go  to  swell 
the  revenues  of  the  Champdoce  family.  He  made 
his  recent  loss,  too,  the  pretext  for  further  retrench- 
ments and  economies. 

Norbert  was  brought  up  exactly  as  a  farmer's  son 
would  have  been.  Every  morning  he  started  off 
to  work,  carrying  his  day's  provisions  in  a  basket 
slung  upon  his  back.  As  he  grew  older,  he  was  taught 
to  sow  and  reap,  to  estimate  the  value  of  a  standing 
crop  at  a  glance,  and,  last  but  not  least,  to  drive  a  hard 
bargain.  For  a  long  time  the  Duke  debated  the  ex- 
pediency of  permitting  his  son  to  be  taught  to  read 
or  write;  and  if  he  did  so  at  last,  it  was  owing  to 
some  severe  remarks  by  the  parish  priest  upon  the 
day  on  which  Norbert  took  the  sacrament  for  the 
first  time. 


6  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

All  went  on  well  and  smoothly  until  the  day  when 
Norbert,  on  his  sixteenth  birthday,  accompanied  his 
father  to  Poitiers  for  the  first  time. 

At  sixteen  years  of  age,  Louis  Norbert  de  Qiamp- 
doce  looked  fully  twenty,  and  was  as  handsome  a  youth 
as  could  be  seen  for  miles  round.  The  sun  had  given 
a  bronzed  tint  to  his  features  which  was  exceedingly 
becoming.  He  had  black  hair,  with  a  slight  curl  run- 
ning through  it,  and  large  melancholy  blue  eyes,  which 
he  inherited  from  his  mother.  Poor  girl!  it  was  the 
sole  beauty  that  she  had  possessed.  He  was  utterly 
uncultured,  and  had  been  ruled  with  such  a  rod  of 
iron  by  his  father  that  he  had  never  been  a  league 
from  the  Chateau.  His  ideas  were  barred  by  the  little 
town  of  Bevron,  with  its  sixty  houses,  its  town  hall, 
its  small  chapel,  and  principal  river;  and  to  him  it 
seemed  a  spot  full  of  noise  and  confusion.  In  the 
whole  course  of  his  life  he  had  never  spoken  to  three 
persons  who  did  not  belong  to  the  district.  Bred  up  in 
this  secluded  manner,  it  was  almost  impossible  for  him 
to  understand  that  any  one  could  lead  a  different 
existence  to  that  of  his  own.  His  only  pleasure  was  in 
procuring  an  abundant  harvest,  and  his  sole  idea  of 
excitement  was  High  Mass  on  Sunday. 

For  more  than  a  year  the  village  girls  had  cast  sly 
glances  at  him,  but  he  was  far  too  simple  and  innocent 
to  notice  this.  When  Mass  was  over,  he  generally 
walked  over  the  farm  with  his  father  to  inspect  the 
work  of  the  past  week,  or  to  set  snares  for  the  birds. 
His  father  at  last  determined  to  give  him  a  wider 
experience,  and  one  day  said  that  he  was  to  accom- 
pany him  to  Poitiers. 

At  a  very  early  hour  in  the  morning  they  started 
in  one  of  the  low  country  carts  of  the  district,  and 


A   DUCAL   MONOMANIAC  7 

under  the  seat  were  small  sacks,  containing  over 
forty  thousand  francs  in  silver  money.  Norbert  had 
long  wished  to  visit  Poitiers,  but  had  never  done  so, 
though  it  was  but  fifteen  miles  off.  Poitiers  is  a  quaint 
old  town,  with  dilapidated  pavements  and  tall,  gloomy 
houses,  the  architecture  of  which  dates  from  the 
tenth  century;  but  Norbert  thought  that  it  must  be 
one  of  the  most  magnificent  cities  in  the  world.  It 
was  market  day  when  they  drove  in,  and  he  was  abso- 
lutely stupefied  with  surprise  and  excitement.  He  had 
never  believed  there  could  be  so  many  people  in  one 
place,  and  hardly  noticed  that  the  cart  had  pulled  up 
opposite  a  lawyer's  office.  His  father  shook  him 
roughly  by  the  shoulder. 

"  Come,  Norbert,  lad,  we  are  there,"  said  he. 

The  young  man  jumped  to  the  ground,  and  assisted 
mechanically  to  remove  the  sacks.  The  servile  manner 
of  the  lawyer  did  not  strike  him,  nor  did  he  listen  to 
the  conversation  between  him  and  his  father.  Finally, 
the  business  being  concluded,  they  took  their  depart- 
ure, and,  driving  to  the  Market  Place,  put  up  the 
horse  and  cart  at  an  old-fashioned,  dingy  inn,  where 
they  took  their  breakfast  in  the  public  room  at  a  table 
where  the  wagoners  were  having  a  violent  quarrel 
over  their  meal.  The  Duke,  however,  had  other  busi- 
ness to  transact  than  the  investment  of  his  money,  for 
he  wanted  to  find  the  whereabouts  of  a  miller  who 
was  somewhat  in  his  debt.  Norbert  waited  for  him 
in  front  of  the  inn,  and  could  not  help  feeling  rather 
uncomfortable  at  finding  himself  alone.  All  at  once 
some  one  came  up  and  touched  him  lightly  on  the 
shoulder.  He  turned  round  sharply,  and  found  him- 
self face  to  face  with  a  young  man,  who,  seeing  his 
look  of  surprise,  said, — 


8  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

"  What !  have  you  entirely  forgotten  your  old  friend 
Montlouis  ?  " 

Montlouis  was  the  son  of  one  of  the  Duke's  farmers, 
and  he  and  Norbert  had  often  played  together  in  past 
years.  They  had  driven  their  cows  to  the  meadows 
together,  and  had  spent  long  days  together  fishing  or 
searching  for  birds'  nests.  The  dress  now  worn  by 
Montlouis  had  at  first  prevented  Norbert  from  recog- 
nizing him,  for  he  was  attired  in  the  uniform  of  the 
college  at  which  his  father  had  placed  him,  being 
desirous  of  making  something  more  than  a  mere 
farmer  of  his  son. 

"  What  are  you  doing  here  ?  "  asked  Norbert. 

"  I  am  waiting  for  my  father." 

"  So  am  I.    Let  us  have  a  cup  of  coffee  together." 

Montlouis  led  his  playmate  into  a  small  wine  shop 
near  at  hand.  He  seemed  a  little  disposed  to  presume 
upon  the  superior  knowledge  of  the  world  which  he 
had  recently  acquired. 

"  If  there  was  a  billiard-table  here,"  said  he,  "  we 
could  pass  away  the  time  with  a  game,  though,  to  be 
sure,  it  runs  into  money." 

Norbert  never  had  had  more  than  a  few  pence  in 
his  pocket  at  one  time,  and  at  this  remark  the  color 
rose  to  his  face,  and  he  felt  much  humiliated. 

"  My  father,"  added  the  young  collegian,  "  gives  me 
all  I  ask  for.  I  am  certain  of  getting  one,  if  not  two 
prizes  at  the  next  examination ;  and  when  I  have  taken 
my  degree,  the  Count  de  Mussidan  has  promised  to 
make  me  his  steward.  What  do  you  think  that  you 
will  do?" 

"  I — I  don't  know,"  stammered  Norbert. 

"  You  will,  I  suppose,  dig  and  toil  in  the  fields,  as 
your  father  has  done  before  you.     You  are  the  son 


A   DUCAL   MONOMANIAC  9 

of  the  noblest  and  the  richest  man  for  miles  round, 
and  yet  you  are  not  so  happy  as  I  am." 

Upon  the  return  of  the  Duke  de  Champdoce  some 
little  time  after  this  conversation,  he  did  not  detect 
any  change  in  his  son's  manner;  but  the  words  spoken 
by  Montlouis  had  fallen  into  Norbert's  brain  like  a 
subtle  poison,  and  a  few  careless  sentences  uttered  by 
an  inconsiderate  lad  had  annihilated  the  education  of 
sixteen  years,  and  a  complete  change  had  taken  place 
in  Norbert's  mind,  a  change  which  was  utterly  un- 
suspected by  those  around  him,  for  his  manner  of 
bringing  up  had  taught  him  to  keep  his  own  counsel. 

The  fixed  smile  on  his  features  entirely  masked 
the  angry  feelings  that  were  working  in  his  breast. 
He  went  through  his  daily  tasks,  which  had  once  been 
a  pleasure  to  him,  with  utter  disgust  and  loathing. 
His  eyes  had  been  suddenly  opened,  and  he  now  un- 
derstood a  host  of  things  which  he  had  never  before 
even  endeavored  to  comprehend.  He  saw  now  that 
his  proper  position  was  among  the  nobles,  whom  he 
never  saw  except  when  they  attended  Mass  at  the  little 
chapel  in  Bevron.  The  Count  de  Mussidan,  so 
haughty  and  imposing,  with  his  snow-white  hair;  the 
aristocratic-looking  Marquis  de  Laurebourg,  of  whom 
the  peasants  stood  in  the  greatest  awe,  were  always 
courteous  and  even  cordial  in  their  salutations,  while 
the  noble  dames  smiled  graciously  upon  him.  Proud 
and  haughty  as  they  were,  they  evidently  looked  upon 
his  father  and  himself  as  their  equals,  in  spite  of 
the  coarse  garments  that  they  wore.  The  realization  of 
these  facts  effected  a  great  change  in  Norbert.  He 
was  the  equal  of  all  these  people,  and  yet  how  great 
a  gulf  separated  him  from  them.  While  he  and  his 
father  tramped  to  Mass  in  heavy  shoes,  the  others 


lo  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

drove  up  in  their  carriages  with  powdered  footmen 
to  open  the  doors.  Why  was  this  extraordinary  dif- 
ference? He  knew  enough  of  the  value  of  crops  and 
land  to  know  that  his  father  was  as  wealthy  as  any 
of  these  gentlemen.  The  laborers  on  the  farm  said 
that  his  father  was  a  miser,  and  the  villagers  asserted 
that  he  got  up  at  night  and  gazed  with  rapture  upon 
the  treasure  that  was  hidden  away  from  men's  eyes. 

"  Norbert  is  an  unhappy  lad,"  they  would  say.  "  He 
who  ought  to  be  able  to  command  all  the  pleasures  of 
life  is  worse  off  than  our  own  children." 

He  also  recollected  that  one  day,  as  his  father  was 
talking  to  the  Marquis  de  Laurebourg,  an  old  lady, 
who  was  doubtless  the  Marchioness,  had  said,  "  Poor 
boy !  he  was  so  early  deprived  of  a  mother's  care !  " 
What  did  that  mean  unless  it  was  a  reflection  upon 
the  arbitrary  behavior  of  his  father?  Norbert  saw 
that  these  people  always  had  their  children  with  them, 
and  the  sight  of  this  filled  him  with  jealousy,  and 
brought  tears  of  anguish  to  his  eyes.  Sometimes,  as 
he  trudged  wearily  behind  his  yoke  of  oxen,  goad  in 
hand,  he  would  see  some  of  these  young  scions  of  the 
aristocracy  canter  by  on  horseback,  and  the  friendly 
wave  of  the  hand,  with  which  they  greeted  him  almost 
appeared  to  his  jaundiced  mind  a  premeditated  insult. 
What  could  they  find  to  do  in  Paris,  to  which  they  all 
took  wing  at  the  first  breath  of  winter  ?  This  was  a 
question  which  he  found  himself  utterly  unable  to 
solve.  To  drink  to  intoxication  offered  no  charms  to 
him,  and  yet  this  was  the  only  pleasure  which  the  vil- 
lagers seemed  to  enjoy.  Those  young  men  must  have 
some  higher  class  of  entertainment,  but  in  what  could 
it  consist?  Norbert  could  hardly  read  a  line  without 
spelHng  every  word;  but  these  new  thoughts  running 


A   DUCAL   MONOMANIAC  ir 

through  his  mind  caused  him  to  study,  so  as  to  im- 
prove his  education.  His  father  had  often  told  Jiim 
that  he  did  not  like  lads  who  were  always  poring  over 
books;  and  so  Norbert  did  not  discontinue  his 
studies,  but  simply  avoided  bringing  them  under  his 
father's  notice.  He  knew  that  there  was  a  large  col- 
lection of  books  in  one  of  the  upstairs  rooms  of  the 
Chateau.  He  managed  to  force  the  lock  of  the  door, 
and  he  found  some  thousands  of  volumes,  of  which  at 
least  two  hundred  were  novels,  which  had  been  the 
solace  of  his  mother's  unhappy  life.  With  all  the 
eagerness  of  a  man  who  is  at  the  point  of  starvation 
and  finds  an  unexpected  store  of  provisions,  Norbert 
seized  upon  them.  At  first  he  had  great  difficulty  in 
dividing  fact  from  fiction. 

He  arrived  at  two  conclusions  from  perusing  this 
heterogeneous  mass  of  literature — one  was,  that  he 
was  most  unhappy;  and  the  other  was,  that  he  hated 
his  father  with  a  cold  and  determined  loathing.  Had 
he  dared,  he  would  have  shown  this  feeling  openly, 
but  the  Duke  de  Champdoce  inspired  him  with  an  un- 
conquerable feeling  of  terror.  This  state  of  affairs 
continued  for  some  months,  and  at  the  end  of  that 
time  the  Duke  felt  that  he  ought  to  make  his  son  ac- 
quainted with  his  projects.  One  Sunday,  after  sup- 
per, he  commenced  this  task.  Norbert  had  never  seen 
his  father  so  animated  as  he  was  at  this  moment,  when 
all  his  ancestral  pride  blazed  in  his  eyes.  He  explained 
at  length  the  acts  and  deeds  of  those  heroes  who  had 
been  the  ornament  of  their  house,  and  enumerated 
the  influential  marriages  which  had  been  made  by 
them  in  the  days  when  their  very  name  was  a  power 
in  the  land.  And  what  remained  of  all  their  power 
and  rank,  save  their  Parisian  domicile,  their  old  Cha- 


12  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

teau,  and  some  two  hundred  thousand  francs  of  in- 
come? 

Norbert  could  hardly  credit  what  he  heard ;  he  had 
never  believed  that  his  father  possessed  such  enor- 
mous wealth.  "  Why,  it  is  inconceivable !  "  he  mut- 
tered. And  yet,  as  he  looked  round,  he  saw  that  the 
surroundings  were  those  of  a  peasant's  cottage.  How 
could  he  endure  so  many  discomforts  and  wounds  to 
his  pride?  In  his  anger  he  absolutely  started  to  his 
feet  with  the  intention  of  reproaching  his  father,  but 
his  courage  failed  him,  and  he  fell  back  into  a  chair, 
quivering  with  emotion. 

The  Duke  de  Champdoce  was  pacing  up  and  down 
the  rdom. 

"  Do  you  think  it  so  little  ?  "  asked  he  angrily. 

Norbert  knew  that  not  one  of  the  neighboring  no- 
bility who  had  the  reputation  of  being  wealthy  pos- 
sessed half  this  annual  income,  and  it  was  with  a  feel- 
ing of  bitter  anger  in  his  heart  that  he  listened  to  the 
broken  words  which  fell  from  his  father's  lips.  All 
at  once  the  Duke  halted  in  front  of  his  son's  chair. 

"  What  fortune  I  have  now,"  said  he  in  a  hoarse 
voice,  "  is  little  or  nothing  in  times  like  these,  when 
the  tradesman  contrives  to  make  an  almost  unlimited 
income,  and,  setting  up  as  a  gentleman,  imitates,  not 
our  virtues,  but  our  vices;  while  the  nobles,  not  un- 
derstanding the  present  hour,  are  in  poverty  and  want. 
Without  money,  nothing  can  be  done.  To  hold  his 
own  against  these  mushroom  fortunes,  a  Champdoce 
should  possess  millions.  Neither  you  nor  I,  my  sen, 
will  see  our  coffers  overflowing  with  millions,  but  our 
descendants  will  reap  the  benefit  of  our  toil.  Our  an- 
cestors gained  their  name  and  glory  by  their  determi- 


A   DUCAL   MONOMANIAC  13 

nation;  let  us  show  that  we  are  their  worthy  off- 
spring." 

As  he  approached  the  subject  which  had  occupied 
his  mind  entirely  for  years,  the  old  noble's  voice 
quivered  and  shook. 

"  I  have  done  my  duty,"  said  he,  calming  himself  by 
a  mighty  effort,  "  and  it  is  now  your  turn  to  do  yours. 
You  shall  marry  some  wealthy  heiress,  and  you  shall 
bring  up  your  son  as  I  have  reared  and  nurtured  you. 
You  will  be  able  to  leave  him  fifteen  millions;  and  if 
he  will  only  follow  in  our  footsteps,  he  will  be  able  to 
bequeath  to  his  heir  a  fortune  that  a  monarch  might 
envy.  And  this  shall  and  will  come  to  pass,  because  it 
is  my  fixed  determination." 

This  strange  outburst  of  confidence  petrified  Nor- 
bert. 

"  The  task  is  heavy  and  painful,"  continued  the 
Duke,  "  but  it  is  one  that  several  scores  of  illustrious 
houses  have  accomplished.  He  who  wishes  to  revive 
the  fallen  fortunes  of  some  mighty  house  must  live 
only  in  the  future,  and  have  no  thought  but  for  the 
prosperity  of  his  descendants.  More  than  once  I  have 
faltered  and  hesitated,  but  I  have  conquered  my  weak- 
ness, and  now  only  live  to  make  the  line  of  Champ- 
doce  the  most  wealthy  in  France.  You  have  seen  me 
haggle  for  an  hour  over  a  wretched  louis,  but  it  was 
for  the  reason  that  at  a  future  day  one  of  our  descend- 
ants might  fling  it  to  a  beggar  from  the  window  of  his 
magnificent  equipage.  Next  year  I  will  take  you  to 
Paris  and  show  you  our  house  there.  You  will  see 
in  it  the  most  wonderful  tapestry,  pictures  by  the  best 
masters,  for  I  have  ornamented  and  embellished  it  as 
a  lover  adorns  a  house  for  a  beloved  mistress,  and  that 


14  THE  CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

house,  Norbert,  is  the  home  that  your  grandchildren 
will  dwell  in." 

The  Duke  uttered  these  words  in  a  tone  of  jubilant 
triumph. 

"  I  have  spoken  to  you  thus,"  resumed  he,  after  a 
short  pause,  "  because  you  are  now  of  an  age  to  listen 
to  the  truth,  and  because  I  wished  you  to  understand 
the  rules  by  which  you  are  to  regulate  your  life.  You 
have  now  arrived  at  years  of  discretion,  and  must  do 
of  your  own  free  will  what  you  have  up  to  this  time 
done  at  my  bidding.  This  is  all  that  I  have  to  say. 
To-morrow  you  will  take  twenty-five  sacks  of  wheat 
to  the  miller  at  Bevrori." 

Like  all  tyrannical  despots,  the  Duke  never  con- 
templated for  a  moment  the  possibility  of  any  one 
disobeying  his  commands;  yet  at  this  very  moment 
Norbert  was  registering  a  solemn  mental  oath  that 
he  would  never  carry  out  his  father's  wishes.  His 
anger,  which  his  fears  had  so  long  restrained,  now 
burst  all  bounds,  and  it  was  in  the  broad  chestnut 
tree  avenue,  behind  the  Chateau,  far  from  any  listen- 
ing ear,  that  he  gave  way  to  his  despair.  So  long  as 
he  had  only  looked  upon  his  father  as  a  mere  miser,  he 
had  permitted  himself  to  indulge  in  hope ;  but  now  he 
understood  him  better,  and  saw  that  life-long  plans, 
such  as  the  Duke  had  framed,  were  not  to  be  easily 
overruled. 

"  My  father  is  mad,"  said  he ;  "  yes ;  decidedly 
mad." 

He  had  made  up  his  mind  that  for  the  present  he 
would  yield  to  his  despotism,  but  afterwards,  in  the 
future,  what  was  he  to  do? 

It  is  an  easy  thing  Jo  find  persons  to  give  you  bad 


A   DANGEROUS   ACQUAINTANCE        15 

advice,  and  the  very  next  day  Norbert  found  one  at 
Bevron  in  the  shape  of  a  certain  man  called  Daumon, 
a  bitter  enemy  of  the  Duke. 


CHAPTER  11. 

A  DANGEROUS  ACQUAINTANCE. 

Daumon  was  not  a  native  of  this  part  of  the 
country,  and  no  one  knew  from  whence  he  came.  He 
said  that  he  had  been  an  attorney's  clerk,  and  had 
certainly  resided  for  a  long  time  in  Paris.  He  was  a 
little  man  of  fifty  years  of  age,  clean  shaved,  and  with 
a  sharp  and  cunning  expression  of  countenance.  His 
long  nose,  sharp,  restless  eyes,  and  thin  lips,  attracted 
attention  at  first  sight.  His  whole  aspect  aroused  a 
feeling  of  distrust.  He  had  come  to  Bevron,  some  fifteen 
years  before,  with  all  his  provisions  in  a  cotton  hand- 
kerchief slung  over  his  shoulder.  He  was  willing  to 
make  money  in  any  way,  and  he  prospered  and  rose. 
He  owned  fields,  vineyards,  and  a  cottage,  which  is 
at  the  juncture  of  the  highway  to  Poitiers  and  the 
cross  road  that  leads  to  Bevron.  His  aim  and  object 
were  to  be  seen  everywhere,  to  know  everybody,  and 
to  have  a  finger  in  every  pie  in  the  neighborhood 
around.  If  any  of  the  farmers  or  the  laborers  wanted 
small  advances,  they  went  to  him,  and  he  granted 
them  loans  at  exorbitant  rates  of  interest.  He  gave 
most  disputants  counsel,  and  had  every  point  of  law  at 
his  fingers'  ends.  He  could  teach  people  how  to  sail  as 
close  to  the  wind  as  possible,  and  yet  to  be  beyond 
the  reach  of  the  law.     He  affected  to  be  only  too 


i6  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

anxious  to  ameliorate  the  lot  of  the  peasant  class,  and 
yet  he  was  drawing  heavy  sums  from  them  by  way  of 
interest.  He  endeavored  by  every  means  in  his  power  to 
rouse  their  feelings  of  animosity  against  both  the  priest- 
hood and  the  gentry.  His  artful  way  of  talking,  and 
the  long  black  coat  which  he  wore,  had  given  him  the 
nickname  of  the  "  Counsellor  "  in  the  district.  The 
reason  why  he  disliked  the  Duke  was  because  the  lat- 
ter had  more  than  once  shown  himself  hostile  to  him, 
and  had  taken  him  before  the  court  of  justice,  from 
which  Daumon  only  escaped  by.  means  of  bribery  of 
suborned  witnesses.  He  vowed  that  he  would  be  re- 
venged for  this,  and  for  five  years  had  been  watching 
his  opportunity,  and  this  was  the  man  whom  Norbert 
met  when  he  went  to  deliver  his  corn  to  the  miller. 
As  he  was  coming  back  with  his  empty  wagon,  Dau- 
mon asked  for  a  lift  back  as  far  as  the  cross  road  that 
led  to  his  cottage. 

"  I  trust,  sir,"  said  he  with  the  most  servile  courtesy, 
"  that  you  will  excuse  the  liberty  I  take,  but  I  am  so 
utterly  crippled  with  rheumatism  that  I  can  hardly 
walk.  Marquis." 

Daumon  had  read  somewhere  that  the  eldest  son  of 
a  Duke  was  entitled  to  be  styled  Marquis,  and  it  was 
the  first  time  that  Norbert  had  been  thus  addressed. 
Before  this  he  would  have  laughed  at  the  appellation, 
but  now  his  wounded  vanity,  and  his  exasperation  at 
the  unhappy  condition  in  which  he  found  himself, 
tempted  him  to  accept  the  title  without  remonstrance. 

"  All  right,  I  can  give  you  a  lift,"  said  he,  and  the 
Counsellor  clambered  into  the  cart. 

All  the  time  that  he  was  showering  thanks  upon 
Norbert  for  his  courtesy  he  was  watching  the  young 
man's  face  carefully. 


A   DANGEROUS   ACQUAINTANCE        17 

"  Evidently,"  thought  the  Counsellor  to  himself, 
"  something  unusual  has  taken  place  at  the  Chateau  de 
Champdoce.  Was  not  the  opportunity  for  revenge 
here?" 

Long  since  he  had  decided  that  through  the  son  he 
could  strike  the  father.     But  he  must  be  cautious. 

"  You  must  have  been  up  very  early.  Marquis," 
said  he. 

The  young  man  made  no  reply. 

"  The  Duke,"  resumed  Daumon,  "  is  most  fortu- 
nate in  having  such  a  son  as  you.  I  know  more  than 
one  father  who  says  to  his  children,  '  See  what  an  ex- 
cellent example  the  young  Marquis  de  Champdoce  sets 
to  you  all.  He  is  not  afraid  of  hard  work,  though  he 
is  noble  by  birth,  and  should  not  soil  his  hands  by 
labor.' " 

A  sudden  lurch  brought  the  Counsellor's  eloquence 
to  a  sudden  close,  but  he  speedily  resumed  again. 

"  I  was  watching  you  as  you  hefted  the  sacks. 
Heavens !  what  muscles !  what  a  pair  of  shoulders !  " 

At  any  other  moment  Norbert  would  have  gloried 
in  such  laudation,  but  now  he  felt  displeased  and  an- 
noyed, and  vented  his  anger  by  a  sharp  cut  at  his 
team. 

"  When  people  say  that  you  are  as  innocent  as  a 
girl,"  continued  Daumon,  "  I  always  say  that  you  are 
a  sensible  young  fellow  after  all,  and  that  if  you 
choose  to  lead  a  regular  life,  it  is  far  better  than  wast- 
ing your  future  fortune  in  wine,  billiards,  cards,  or 
women." 

"  I  don't  know  that  I  might  not  do  something  of 
the  kind,"  returned  Norbert. 

"  What  did  you  say  ? "  answered  his  wily  com- 
panion. 


i8  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

"  I  said  that  if  I  were  my  own  master,  I  would  live 
as  other  young  men." 

The  lad  paused  abruptly,  and  Daumon's  eyes 
gleamed  with  joy. 

"  Aha,"  murmured  he  to  himself ;  "  I  have  the 
game  in  my  own  hands.  I  will  teach  his  Grace  to 
interfere  with  me." 

Then,  in  a  voice  which  could  reach  Norbert's  ears, 
he  continued, — 

"  Of  course  some  parents  are  far  too  strict." 

An  impatient  gesture  from  Norbert  showed  him 
that  he  had  wounded  him  deeply. 

"  Yes,  yes,"  put  in  the  wily  Counsellor,  "  as  the 
head  grows  bald,  and  the  blood  begins  to  stagnate, 
they  forget, — they  forget  the  days  when  all  was  so 
different.  They  forget  the  time  when  they  were 
young,  and  when  they  sowed  their  wild  oats  with  so 
lavish  a  hand.  When  your  father  was  twenty-five,  he 
was  precious  wild.  Ask  your  father,  if  you  do  not 
believe  me." 

At  this  moment  the  wagon  passed  the  cross  road, 
and  Norbert  pulled  up. 

"  I  cannot  thank  you  enough,  Marquis,"  said  the 
Counsellor  as  he  alighted  with  difficulty ;  "  but  if  you 
would  condescend  to  come  and  taste  my  brandy,  I 
should  esteem  it  a  great  honor." 

Norbert  hesitated  for  an  instant:  his  reasoning 
powers  urged  him  to  decline  the  offer,  but  he  refused 
to  listen  to  them,  and,  fastening  his  horses  to  a  tree, 
he  followed  Daumon  down  the  by-road.  The  cottage 
was  an  excellent  one,  and  extremely  well  furnished. 
A  woman,  who  acted  as  Daumon's  housekeeper,  served 
the  refreshments.  The  office — for  he  called  his  room 
an  office,  just  as  if  he  was  a  professional  man — was 


A  DANGEROUS   ACQUAINTANCE        19 

a  strange-looking  place.  On  one  side  was  a  desk 
covered  with  account  books,  and  against  the  wall  were 
sacks  of  seed.  A  number  of  books  on  legal  matters 
crowded  the  shelves,  and  from  the  ceiling  hung  a 
quantity  of  dried  herbs.  The  Counsellor  welcomed 
the  heir  to  the  dukedom  of  Champdoce  with  the 
greatest  deference,  seated  him  in  his  own  capacious 
leathern  arm-chair,  and  pressed  the  brandy  which  he 
had  refused  upon  him. 

"  Come,  sir,  another  drop,"  said  he,  and,  without 
waiting  for  Norbert's  assent,  he  replenished  the  glass 
which  stood  before  him. 

*'  I  got  this  brandy  from  a  man  down  Arcachon  way 
in  return  for  a  kindness  that  I  did  him;  for,  without 
boasting,  I  may  say  that  I  have  done  kindnesses  for 
many  people  in  my  time."  He  raised  his  glass  to  his 
lips  as  he  spoke.  "  It  is  good,  is  it  not  ?  "  said  he. 
"  You  can't  get  stuff  with  an  aroma  like  that  here- 
abouts." 

The  extreme  deference  of  the  man,  coupled  with  the 
excellence  of  the  spirit,  opened  Norbert's  heart  in  a 
very  short  space  of  time.  Up  to  the  present  the  con- 
duct of  poor  Norbert  had  been  blameless,  but  now, 
without  knowing  anything  of  the  Counsellor's  character 
or  reputation,  he  poured  out  all  the  secret  sorrows  of 
his  heart,  while  Daumon  chuckled  secretly,  preserving 
all  the  time  the  imperturbable  face  of  a  physician 
called  in  to  visit  a  patient. 

"  Dear  me !  dear  me !  "  said  he ;  "  this  is  really  too 
bad.  Poor  fellow !  I  really  pity  you.  Were  it  not 
for  the  deep  respect  that  I  have  for  the  Duke,  your 
father,  I  should  feel  inclined  to  say  that  he  was  not 
quite  in  his  right  senses." 

"  Yes,"  continued  Norbert,  the  tears  starting  to  his 


20  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

eyes,  "  this  is  just  how  I  am  situated.  My  destiny 
has  been  marked  out  for  me,  and  I  am  helpless  to 
alter  it.  I  had  better  a  thousand  times  be  lying  under 
the  cold  greensward,  than  vegetate  thus  above 
ground." 

The  peculiar  smile  on  Daumon's  lips  caused  him  to 
pause  in  his  complaint. 

"  Perhaps,"  he  went  on,  "  you  think  that  I  am  child- 
ish in  talking  thus  ?  " 

"  Not  at  all,  Marquis,  you  have  suffered  too  deeply ; 
but  forgive  me  if  I  say  that  you  are  foolish  to  despond 
so  much  over  the  future  that  lies  before  you." 

"  Future !  "  repeated  Norbert  angrily,  "  what  is  the 
use  of  speaking  to  me  of  the  future,  when  I  may  be 
kept  in  this  horrible  servitude  for  the  next  thirty 
years  ?    My  father  is  still  hale  and  hearty." 

"  What  of  that  ?  You  will  be  of  age  soon,  and  then 
you  will  have  full  right  to  claim  your  mother's  for- 
tune." 

The  extreme  surprise  displayed  by  Norbert  at  this 
intelligence  convinced  the  Counsellor  that  he  was 
much  more  unsophisticated  than  he  had  supposed  him 
to  be. 

"  A  man,"  continued  he,  "  can,  when  he  attains  his 
majority,  dispose  of  his  inheritance  as  he  thinks  fit, 
and  your  mother's  fortune  will  render  you  inde- 
pendent of  your  father." 

"  But  I  should  never  dare  to  claim  it ;  how  could  I 
venture  to  do  so  ?  " 

"  You  need  not  make  the  application  personally ; 
your  solicitor  would  manage  all  that  for  you ;  but,  of 
course,  you  must  wait  until  you  are  of  age." 

"  But  I  cannot  wait  until  then,"  said  Norbert ;  "  I 
must  at  once  free  myself  from  this  tyranny." 


A   DANGEROUS   ACQUAINTANCE        21 

"  Luckily  there  are  ways." 

"  Do  you  really  think  so,  Daumon  ?  " 

"  Yes,  and  I  will  show  you  what  is  done  every  day. 
Nothing  is  more  common  in  noble  families.  Would 
you  like  to  be  a  soldier?" 

"  No,  I  do  not  care  for  that,  and  yet " 

"  That  is  your  last  resource.  Marquis.  First,  then, 
we  could  lay  a  plaint  before  the  court." 

"A  plaint?" 

"  Certainly.  Do  you  suppose  that  our  laws  do  not 
provide  for  such  a  case  as  a  father  exceeding-  the 
proper  bounds  of  parental  authority?  Tell  me,  has 
the  Duke,  your  father,  ever  struck  you  ?  " 

"  Never  once."  . 

"  Well,  that  is  almost  a  pity.  We  will  say  that  your 
father's  property  is  worth  two  millions,  and  yet  you 
derive  so  slight  a  benefit  from  this  that  you  are  known 
everywhere  as  the  '  Young  Savage  of  Champdoce  ' !  " 

Norbert  started  to  his  feet. 

"  Who  dares  speak  of  me  like  that  ?  "  said  he  furi- 
ously.    "  Tell  me  his  name." 

This  outburst  of  passion  did  not  in  the  smallest 
degree  discompose  Daumon. 

"  Your  father  has  many  enemies,  Marquis,"  he  re- 
sumed, "  for  his  manners  are  overbearing  and  exact- 
ing; but  you  have  many  friends,  and  among  them  all 
you  will  find  none  more  devoted  than  myself,  humble 
though  my  position  may  be.  Many  ladies  of  high  rank 
take  a  great  interest  in  you.  Only  a  day  or  two  ago 
some  persons  were  speaking  of  you  in  the  presence 
'of  Mademoiselle  de  Laurebourg,  and  she  blushed  crim- 
son at  your  name.  Do  you  know  Mademoiselle 
Diana?" 

Norbert  colored. 


22  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

"  Ah,  I  understand,"  replied  Daumon,  "  And  when 
you  have  broken  the  fetters  that  now  bind  you,  we 
shall  see  something  one  of  these  days.    And  now " 

But  at  this  moment  Norbert's  eyes  caught  a  glimpse 
of  the  old-fashioned  cuckoo  clock  that  hung  on  the 
wall  in  one  corner  of  the  room.  He  started  to  his 
feet. 

"  Why,  it  is  dinner-time !  "  said  he.  "  What  upon 
earth  will  my  father  say?" 

"  What,  does  he  keep  you  in  such  order  as  that  ? " 

But,  never  heeding  the  sarcastic  question  of  the 
Counsellor,  Norbert  had  regained  his  cart,  and  was 
driving  off  at  full  speed. 


CHAPTER  in. 


A  BOLD   ADVENTURE. 


Daumon  had  in  no  way  exaggerated  when  he  said 
that  Norbert  was  spoken  of  as  the  "  Young  Savage 
of  Champdoce,"  though  no  one  used  this  appellation 
in  an  insulting  form.  Public  opinion  had  changed 
considerably  regarding  the  Duke  of  Champdoce.  The 
first  time  that  he  had  made  his  appearance,  wearing 
wooden  shoes  and  a  leathern  jacket,  every  one  had 
laughed,  but  this  did  not  affect  him  at  all,  and  in  the 
end  people  began  to  term  his  dogged  obstinacy  indom- 
itable perseverance.  The  gleam  that  shone  from  his 
hoarded  millions  imparted  a  brilliant  lustre  to  his 
shabby  garments.  Why  should  they  waste  their  pity 
upon  a  man  who  would  eventually  come  into  a  gigantic 
fortune,  and  have  the  means  of  gratifying  all  his 
desires  ? 


A   BOLD   ADVENTURE  23 

Mothers,  with  daughters  especially,  took  a  great 
interest  in  the  young  man,  for  to  get  a  girl  married 
to  the  "  Young  Savage  of  Champdoce  "  would  be  a 
feat  to  be  proud  of;  but  unluckily  his  father  watched 
him  with  all  the  vigilance  of  a  Spanish  duenna.  But 
there  was  a  young  girl  who  had  long  since  secretly 
formed  a  design  of  her  own,  and  this  bold-hearted 
beauty  was  Diana  de  Laurebourg.  It  was  with  per- 
fect justice  that  she  had  received  the  name  of  the 
"  Belle  of  Poitiers."  She  was  tall  and  very  fair,  with 
a  dazzling  complexion  and  masses  of  lustrous  hair; 
but  her  eyes  gleamed  with  a  suppressed  fire,  which 
plainly  showed  the  constitution  of  her  nature.  She 
had  been  brought  up  in  a  convent,  and  her  parents, 
who  had  wished  her  to  take  the  veil,  had  only  been 
induced  to  remove  her  owing  to  her  obstinate  refusal 
to  pronounce  the  vows,  coupled  with  the  earnest  en- 
treaties of  the  lady  superior,  who  was  kept  in  a  con- 
stant state  of  ferment  owing  to  the  mutinous  conduct 
of  her  pupiL  Her  father  was  wealthy,  but  all  the 
property  went  over  to  her  brother,  ten  years  older 
than  herself;  and  so  Diana  was  portionless,  with  the 
exception  of  a  paltry  sum  of  forty  thousand  francs. 

"  My  child,"  said  her  father  to  her  the  first  day  of 
her  return,  "you  have  come  back  to  us  once  more, 
and  now  all  you  have  to  do  is  to  fascinate  some  gentle- 
man who  is  your  equal  in  position  and  who  has  plenty 
of  money.  If  you  fail  in  that,  back  you  go  to  the 
convent." 

"  Time  enough  to  talk  about  that  some  years  hence," 
answered  the  girl  with  a  smile;  "  at  present  I  am  quite 
contented  with  being  at  home  with  you." 

M.  de  Laurebourg  had  commented  with  some 
severity  upon  the  conduct  of  the  Duke  de  Champdoce 


24  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

towards  his  son,  but  he  was  perfectly  willing  to  sacri- 
fice his  daughter's  heart  for  a  suitable  marriage. 

"  I  shall  gain  my  end,"  murmured  the  girl,  "  I  am 
sure  of  it." 

She  had  heard  a  friend  of  her  father's  speaking  of 
Norbert  and  his  colossal  expectations. 

"  Why  should  I  not  marry  him  ?  "  she  asked  of  her 
own  heart ;  and,  with  the  utmost  skill,  she  applied  her- 
self to  the  execution  of  her  design;  for  the  idea  of 
being  a  duchess,  with  an  income  of  two  hundred  thou- 
sand francs,  was  a  most  fascinating  one.  But  how 
was  she  to  meet  Norbert?  and  how  bring  over  the 
money-raking  Duke  to  her  side?  Before,  however, 
she  could  decide  on  any  plan,  she  felt  that  she  must 
see  Norbert.  He  was  pointed  out  to  her  one  day  at 
Mass,  and  she  was  struck  by  his  beauty  and  by  an 
ease  of  manner  which  even  his  shabby  dress  could 
not  conceal.  By  the  quick  perception  which  many 
women  possess,  she  dived  into  Norbert's  inmost  soul; 
she  felt  that  he  suffered,  and  her  sympathy  for  him 
brought  with  it  the  dawn  of  love,  and  by  the  time  she 
had  left  the  chapel  she  had  registered  a  solemn  vow  that 
she  would  one  day  be  Norbert's  wife.  But  she  did  not 
acquaint  her  parents  with  this  determination  on  her 
part,  preferring  to  carry  out  her  plans  without  any 
aid  or  advice.  Mademoiselle  Diana  was  shrewd  and 
practical,  and  not  likely  to  err  from  want  of  judg- 
ment. The  frank  and  open  expression  of  her  fea- 
tures concealed  a  mind  of  superior  calibre,  and  one 
which  well  knew  how  to  weigh  the  advantages  of 
social  rank  and  position.  She  affected  a  sudden  sym- 
pathy with  the  poor,  and  visited  them  constantly,  and 
might  be  frequently  met  in  the  lanes  carrying  soup 


A   BOLD   ADVENTURE  25 

and  other  comforts  to  them.  Her  father  declared, 
with  a  laugh,  that  she  ought  to  have  been  a  Sister  of 
Charity,  and  did  not  notice  the  fact  that  all  Diana's 
pensioners  resided  in  the  vicinity  of  Champdoce.  But 
'it  was  in  vain  that  she  wandered  about,  continually 
changing  the  hour  of  her  visits.  The  "  Savage  of 
Champdoce  "  was  not  to  be  seen,  nor  was  he  even  a 
regular  attendant  at  Mass.  At  last  a  mere  trifle 
changed  the  whole  current  of  the  young  man's  exist- 
ence; for,  a  week  after  the  conversation  in  which  the 
Duke  had  laid  bare  his  scheme  to  his  son,  he  again 
referred  to  it,  after  their  dinner,  which  they  had  par- 
taken of  at  the  same  table  with  forty  laborers,  who 
had  been  hired  to  get  in  the  harvest. 

"  You  need  not,  my  son,"  began  the  old  gentleman, 
"  go  back  with  the  laborers  to-day." 

"  But,  sir "  • 

"  Allow  me  to  continue,  if  you  please.  My  confi- 
dential conversation  with  you  the  other  night  was 
merely  a  preliminary  to  my  telling  you  that  for  the 
future  I  did  not  expect  you  to  toil  as  hard  as  you  had 
hitherto  done,  for  I  wish  you  to  perform  a  duty  less 
laborious,  but  more  responsible ;  you  will  for  the 
future  act  as  farm-bailiff." 

Norbert  looked  up  suddenly  into  his  father's  face. 

"  For  I  wish  you  to  become  accustomed  to  inde- 
pendent action,  so  that  at  my  death  your  sudden  liberty 
may  not  intoxicate  you." 

The  Duke  then  rose  from  his  seat,  and  took  a  highly 
finished  gun  from  a  cupboard. 

"  I  have  been  very  much  pleased  with  you  for  some 
time  past,"  said  he,  "  and  this  is  a  sign  of  my  satis- 
faction.    The   gamekeeper  has   brought   in   a   thor- 


26  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

oughly  trained  dog,  which  will  also  be  yours.  Shoot 
as  much  as  you  like,  and,  as  you  cannot  go  about  with- 
out money  in  your  pocket,  take  this,  but  be  careful 
of  it;  for  remember  that  extravagance  on  your  part 
will  procrastinate  the  day  upon  which  our  descendants 
will  resume  their  proper  station  in  the  world." 

The  Duke  spoke  for  some  time  longer,  but  his  son 
paid  no  heed  to  his  words,  and  was  too  much  as- 
tonished to  accept  the  six  five-franc  pieces  which  his 
father  tendered  to  him. 

"  I  suppose,"  said  the  Duke  at  last  in  angry  accents, 
"  that  you  will  have  the  grace  to  thank  me." 

"  You  will  find  that  I  am  not  ungrateful,"  stam- 
mered Norbert,  aroused  by  this  reproach. 

The  Duke  turned  away  impatiently. 

"  What  has  the  boy  got  into  his  head  now  ?  "  mut- 
tered he. 

It  was  owing  to  the  advice  of  the  priest  of  Bevron 
that  the  Duke  had  acted  as  he  had  done ;  but  this  in- 
dulgence came  too  late,  for  Norbert's  detestation  of 
his  tyrant  was  too  deeply  buried  in  his  heart  to  be 
easily  eradicated. 

A  gun  was  not  such  a  wonderful  present  after  all — 
a  matter  of  a  few  francs,  perhaps.  Had  the  Duke 
offered  him  the  means  of  a  better  educatictfi,  it  would 
be  a  different  matter ;  but  as  it  was,  he  would  still 
remain  the  "  Young  Savage  of  Champdoce." 

However,  Norbert  took  advantage  of  the  permis- 
sion accorded  to  him,  and  rambled  daily  over  the 
estate  with  his  gun  and  his  dog  Bruno,  to  which  he 
had  become  very  much  attached.  His  thoughts  often 
wandered  to  Daumon ;  but  he  had  made  inquiries,  and 
had  heard  that  the  Counsellor  was  a  most  dangerous 
man,  who  would  stick  at  nothing;  but  for  all  that,  he 


A   FINANCIAL   TRANSACTION  27 

had  made  up  his  mind  to  go  back  to  him  again  for 
further  advice,  though  his  better  nature  warned  him 
of  the  precipice  on  the  brink  of  which  he  was  standing. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

•A   FINANCIAL  TRANSACTION. 

Daumon  was  expecting  a  visit  from  the  young  man, 
and  had  been  waiting  for  him  with  the  cool  com.pla- 
cency  of  a  bird-catcher,  who,  having  arranged  all  his 
lines  and  snares,  stands  with  folded  arms  until  his 
feathered  victims  fall  into  his  net.  The  line  that  he 
had  displayed  before  the  young  man's  eyes  was  the 
sight  of  liberty,  Daumon  had  emissaries  everywhere, 
and  knew  perfectly  well  what  was  going  on  at  the 
Chateau  de  Champdoce,  and  could  have  repeated  the 
exact  words  made  use  of  by  the  Duke  in  his  last  con- 
versation with  his  son,  and  was  aware  of  the  leave  of 
liberty  that  had  been  granted  to  Norbert,  and  was  as 
certain  as  possible  that  this  small  concession  would 
only  hasten  the  rebellion  of  the  young  Marquis. 

He  often  took  his  evening  stroll  in  the  direction  of 
Champdoce,  and,  pipe  in  mouth,  would  meditate  over 
his'  schemes.  Pausing  on  the  brow  of  a  hill  that  over- 
looked the  Chateau,  he  would  shake  his  fist,  and 
mutter, — 

"  He  will  come ;  ah,  yes,  he  must  come  to  me ! " 

And  he  was  in  the  right,  for,  after  a  week  spent  in 
indecision,  Norbert  knocked  at  the  door  of  his  father's 
bitterest  enemy.  Daumon,  concealed  behind  the  wm- 
dow  curtain,  had  watched  his  approach,  and  it  was 


28  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

with  the  same  air  of  deference  that  he  welcomed  the 
Marquis,  as  he  took  care  to  call  him ;  but  he  affected 
to  be  so  overcome  by  the  honor  of  this  visit  that  he 
could  only  falter  out, — 

"  Marquis,  I  am  your  most  humble  servant." 

And  Norbert,  who  had  expected  a  very  warm  greet- 
ing, was  much  disconcerted.  For  a  moment  he 
thought  of  going  away  again,  but  his  pride  would 
not  permit  him  to  do  so,  for  he  had  said  to  himself 
that  it  would  be  the  act  of  a  fool  to  go  away  this 
time  without  having  accomplished  anything. 

"  I  want  to  have  a  bit  of  advice  from  you.  Counsel- 
lor," said  he ;  "  for,  as  I  have  but  little  experience  in 
a  certain  matter,  I  should  like  to  avail  myself  of  your 
knowledge." 

"  You  do  me  too  much  honor.  Marquis,"  murmured 
the  Counsellor  with  a  low  bow. 

"  But  surely,"  said  the  young  man,  "  you  must  feel 
that  you  are  bound  to  assist  me  after  all  you  told  me 
a  day  or  two  back.  You  mentioned  two  means  by 
which  I  could  regain  my  freedom,  and  hinted  that 
there  was  a  third  one.  I  have  come  to  you  to-day  to 
ask  you  what  it  was." 

Never  did  any  man  more  successfully  assume  an 
air  of  astonishment  than  did  Daumon  at  this  moment. 

"  What,"  said  he,  "  do  you  absolutely  remember 
those  idle  words  I  made  use  of  then  ?  " 

"  I  do  most  decidedly." 

The  villain's  heart  of  Daumon  was  filled  with  de- 
light, but  he  replied, — 

"  Oh,  Marquis !  you  must  remember  that  we  say 
many  things  that  really  have  no  special  meaning,  for 
between  act  and  intention  there  is  a  tremendous  dif- 


A   FINANCIAL   TRANSACTION  29 

ference.  I  often  speak  too  freely,  and  that  has  more 
than  once  got  me  into  trouble." 

Norbert  was  no  fool,  in  spite  of  his  want  of  educa- 
tion, and  the  hot  blood  of  his  ancestors  coursed  freely 
through  his  veins.  He  now  struck  the  butt-end  of  his 
gun  heavily  upon  the  floor. 

**  You  treated  me  like  a  simpleton,  then,  it  appears  ?  " 
remarked  he  angrily. 

"My  dear  Marquis " 

"  And  imagined  that  you  could  trifle  with  me.  You 
managed  to  learn  my  real  feelings  for  your  own  amuse- 
ment; but,  take  care;  this  may  cost  you  more  than 
you  think." 

"  Ah,  Marquis,  can  you  believe  that  I  would  act  so 
basely  ? " 

"What  else  can  I  think?" 

Daumon  paused  for  a  moment,  and  then  said, — 

"  You  will  be  angry  when  you  hear  what  I  have 
to  say,  but  I  cannot  help  speaking  the  truth." 

"  I  shall  not  be  angry,  and  you  can  speak  freely." 

"  I  am  but  a  very  poor  and  humble  man.  What 
have  I  to  gain  by  securing  any  note,  and  by  encourag- 
ing you  to  brave  your  father's  anger  ?  Just  think  what 
must  happen  if  I  opposed  the  all-powerful  Duke  de 
Champdoce;  why,  I  might  find  myself  in  prison  in 
next  to  no  time." 

"  And  for  what  reason,  if  you  please  ? "  asked 
Norbert. 

"  Have  you  never  studied  law  in  the  slightest  de- 
gree, Marquis?  Dear  me,  how  neglectful  some  par- 
ents are !  You  are  not  of  age,  and  there  is  a  certain 
article,  354  in  the  code,  that  could  be  so  worked  that 
a  poor  humble  creature  like  me  could  be  locked  up 


30  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

for  perhaps  five  years.  The  law  deals  very  hardlv 
when  any  one  has  deahngs  with  a  minor,  the  more 
especially  when  the  father  is  a  man  of  untold  wealth. 
If  the  Duke  should  ever  discover " 

"  But  how  could  he  ever  do  so  ? " 

Daumon  made  no  reply,  and  his  silence  so  plainly 
showed  Norbert  that  the  Counsellor  did  not  trust  him, 
that  he  repeated  the  question  in  an  angry  voice. 

"  Your  blind  subservience  to  your  father  is  too 
well  known." 

"  You  believe  that  I  should  confess  everything  to 
him?" 

"  You  yourself  told  me  that  when  his  eyes  were 
fixed  on  yours  you  could  not  avoid  yielding  to  his 
will." 

Norbert's  anger  gradually  died  away,  as  he  replied 
in  accents  of  intense  bitterness, — 

"  I  may  be  a  savage,  but  I  am  not  likely  to  become 
a  traitor.  If  I  once  promised  to  keep  a  secret,  no 
measures  or  tortures  would  tear  it  from  me.  I  may 
fear  my  father,  but  I  am  a  Champdoce,  and  fear  no 
other  mortal  man.     Do  you  understand  me  ?  " 

"But,  Marquis " 

"  No  other  mortal  man,"  interrupted  Norbert 
sternly,  "  will  ever  know  from  me  that  we  have  ever 
exchanged  words  together." 

An  expression  passed  over  the  features  of  the  Coun- 
sellor which  cast  a  ray  of  hope  upon  the  young  man's 
heart. 

"  Upon  my  word,"  said  he,  "  any  one  would  judge 
from  my  hesitation  that  I  had  some  wrong  motive  in 
acting  as  I  am  doing,  but  I  never  give  bad  advice, 
and  any  one  will  tell  you  the  same  about  me,  and  this 
is  the  breviary  by  which  I  regulate  all  my  actions." 


A   FINANCIAL   TRANSACTION  31 

As  he  spoke,  he  took  a  book  from  his  desk,  and 
waved  it  aloft. 

Norbert  looked  puzzled  and  angry. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  asktd  he. 

"Nothing,  Marquis,  nothing;  have  patience;  your 
majority  is  not  far  of¥,  and  you  have  only  a  few  years 
to  wait.  Remember  that  your  father  is  an  old  man; 
let  him  carry  out  his  plan  for  a  few  years  longer, 
and " 

Norbert  struck  his  fist  savagely  upon  the  table,  cry- 
ing out  furiously.  "  It  was  not  worth  my  coming  here 
if  this  was  all  that  you  had  to  say ; "  and,  whistling 
to  Bruno,  the  young  man  prepared  to  quit  the  room. 

"  Ah,  Marquis !  you  are  far  too  hasty,"  said  the 
Counsellor  humbly. 

Norbert  paused.  "  Speak  then,"  answered  he 
roughly. 

In  a  low,  impressive  voice,  Daumon  went  on. 

"  Remember,  Marquis,  that  though  I  should  like  to 
see  you  have  a  better  understanding  with  your  father, 
yet,  at  the  same  time,  I  should  like  to  work  for  the 
happiness  of  you  both.  I  am  like  a  judge  in  court, 
who  endeavors  to  bring  about  a  compromise  between 
the  litigants.  Can  you  not,  while  affecting  perfect  sub- 
mission, live  in  a  manner  more  suited  to  you?  There 
are  many  young  men  of  your  age  in  a  precisely  similar 
position." 

Norbert  took  a  step  forward  and  began  to  listen 
earnestly. 

"  You  have  more  liberty  now,"  continued  Daumon. 
"  Pray,  does  your  father  know  how  you  employ  your 
time?" 

"  He  knows  that  I  can  do  nothing  but  shoot." 

"  Well,  I  know  what  I  would  do  if  I  were  your  age." 


32  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

"  And  what  would  that  be  ?  " 

"  First  of  all,  I  would  stay  at  home  sufficiently  often 
not  to  arouse  papa's  suspicions,  and  the  rest  of  my  lei- 
sure I  would  spend  in  Poitiers,  which  is  a  very  pleasant 
town.  I  could  take  nice  rooms  in  which  I  could  be 
my  own  master.  At  Champdoce  I  could  keep  to  my 
peasant's  clothes,  but  in  Poitiers  I  would  be  dressed  by 
the  best  tailor.  I  should  pick  up  a  few  boon  com- 
panions amongst  the  jolly  students,  and  have  plenty  of 
friends,  ladies  as  well  as  gentlemen.  I  would  dance, 
sing,  and  drink,  and  would  dip  into  every  kind  of  life, 
so  that " 

He  paused  for  a  second  and  then  said,  "  There  ought 
to  be  a  fast  horse  or  so  in  your  father's  stables,  eh? 
Well  then,  if  there  are,  why  not  take  one  for  your  own 
riding?  Then  at  night,  when  you  are  supposed  to  be 
snug  between  the  sheets,  creep  down  to  the  stable,  clap 
a  bridle  on  the  horse,  and,  hey,  presto !  you  are  in  Poi- 
tiers. Put  on  the  clothes  suitable  to  the  handsome 
young  noble  you  are,  and  have  a  joyous  carouse  with 
your  many  companions;  and  if  you  do,  next  day,  n«t 
choose  to  go  back  until  the  morning,  the  servants  will 
only  tell  your  father  that  you  are  out  shooting." 

Norbert  was  a  thoroughly  strong,  honest  youth,  and 
the  idea  of  meanness  and  duplicity  were  most  repug- 
nant to  his  feelings  in  general ;  and  yet  he  listened 
eagerly  to  this  proposition,  for  oppression  had  utterly 
changed  his  nature.  The  career  of  dissipation  and 
pleasure  proposed  so  adroitly  by  Daumon  dazzled  his 
imagination  and  his  eyes  began  to  sparkle. 

"  Well,"  asked  the  Counsellor  invidiously,  "  and, 
pray,  what  is  there  to  prevent  you  doing  all  this  ?  " 

"  Want  of  funds,"  returned  Norbert,  with  a  deep 
sigh ;  "  I  should  want  a  great  deal,  and  I  have  hardly 


A   FINANCIAL   TRANSACTION  33 

any ;  if  I  were  to  ask  my  father  for  any,  he  would  re- 
fuse me,  and  wonder " 

"  Have  you  no  friends  who  would  find  you  such  a 
sum  as  you  would  require  until  you  came  of  age?  " 

**  None  at  all ;  "  and,  overwhelmed  with  the  sense  of 
his  ut1«r  kftlpl««sness,  Norbert  sank  back  upon  a  chair. 

After  a  brief  period  of  reflection,  Daumon  spoke  with 
apparent  reluctance, — 

"  No,  Marquis,  I  cannot  see  you  so  miserably  un- 
happy without  doing  my  best  to  help  you.  A  man  is  a 
fool  who  puts  out  his  hand  to  interfere  between  father 
and  son,  but  I  will  find  money  to  lend  you  what  you 
want." 

"  Will  you  do  so,  Counsellor  ?  " 

"  Unluckily  I  cannot,  I  am  only  a  poor  fellow,  but 
some  of  the  neighboring  farmers  intrust  me  with  their 
savings  for  investment.  Why  should  I  not  use  them  to 
make  you  comfortable  and  happy  ?  " 

Norbert  was  almost  choked  with  emotion.  "  Can  this 
be  done  ?  "  asked  he  eagerly. 

"  Yes,  Marquis ;  but  you  understand  that  you  will 
have  to  pay  very  heavy  interest  on  account  of  the  risk 
incurred  in  lending  money  to  a  minor.  For  the  law 
does  not  recognize  such  transactions,  and  I  myself 
do  not  like  them.  If  I  were  in  your  place,  I  would 
not  borrow  money  on  these  terms,  but  wait  until  some 
friend  could  help  me." 

"  I  have  no  friends,"  again  answered  the  young  man. 

Daumon  shrugged  his  shoulders  with  the  air  of  a 
man  who  says :  "  Well,  I  suppose  I  must  give  in,  but 
at  any  rate  I  have  done  my  duty."  Then  he  began 
aloud,  "  I  am  perfectly  aware,  Marquis,  that,  consider- 
ing the  wealth  that  must  one  day  be  yours,  this  transac- ' 
lion  is  a  most  paltry  one." 


34  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

He  then  went  on  to  enumerate  the  conditions  of  the 
loan,  and  at  each  clause  he  would  stop  and  say,  "  Do 
you  understand  this  ?  " 

Norbert  understood  him  so  well  that  at  the  end  of  the 
conversation,  in  exchange  for  the  thousand  francs,  he 
handed  to  the  Counsellor  the  promissory  notes  for  four 
thousand  francs  each,  which  were  made  payable  to  two 
farmers,  who  were  entirely  in  Daumon's  clutches.  The 
young-  man,  in  addition,  pledged  his  solemn  word  of 
honor  that  he  would  never  disclose  that  the  Counsellor 
had  anything  to  do  with  the  transaction. 

"  Remember,  Marquis,  prudence  must  be  strictly  ob- 
served. Come  here  to  me  only  after  the  night  has 
set  in." 

This  was  the  last  piece  of  advice  that  Daumon  gave 
his  client ;  and  when  he  was  again  left  alone,  he  perused 
with  feelings  of  intense  gratification,  the  two  notes 
that  Norbert  had  signed.  They  were  entirely  correct 
and  binding,  and  drawn  up  in  proper  legal  form.  He 
had  made  up  his  mind  to  let  the  young  man  have  all 
his  savings,  amounting  to  some  forty  thousand 
francs,  and  not  to  press  for  payment  until  the  young 
man  came  into  his  fortune. 

All  this,  however,  hinged  upon  Norbert's  silence  and 
discretion,  for,  at  the  first  inkling  of  the  matter,  the 
Duke  would  scatter  all  the  edifice  to  the  winds ;  but  of 
this  happening  Daumon  had  no  fear. 

As  Norbert  walked  along,  followed  by  his  dog,  he 
could  not  resist  putting  his  hands  into  his  pockets  and 
fingering  the  tempting,  crisp  banknotes  which  lurked 
there,  and  making  sure  that  it  was  a  reality  and  not  a 
dream.  That  night  seemed  interminable ;  and  the  next 
morning,  with  his  gun  on  his  shoulder  and  his  dog  at 
his  heels,  he  walked  briskly  along  the  road  to  Poitiers. 


A    FINANCIAL   TRANSACTION  35 

He  had  determined  to  follow  Daumon's  advice, — to 
have  suitable  rooms,  and  to  make  the  acquaintance  of 
some  of  the  students.  On  his  arrival  at  Poitiers,  which 
he  had  only  once  before  visited,  Norbert  felt  like  a  half- 
fledged  bird  who  knows  not  how  to  use  its  wings.  He 
wandered  about  the  streets,  not  knowing  how  to  com- 
mence what  he  wanted.  Finally,  after  a  sojourn  in  the 
town  of  a  very  brief  duration,  he  went  to  the  inn  where 
he  ha<l  breakfasted  with  his  father  on  his  former  visit, 
and,  after  an  unsatisfactory  meal,  returned  to  Champ- 
doce,  as  wretched  as  he  had  been  joyful  and  hopeful 
at  his  early  start  in  the  morning.  But  later  on  he  went 
to  Daumon,  who  put  him  in  communication  with  a 
friend  who,  for  a  commission,  took  the  unsophisticated 
lad  about,  hired  some  furnished  rooms,  and  finally  in- 
troduced him  to  the  best  ladies  in  the  town,  while  Nor- 
bert ordered  clothes  to  the  tune  of  five  hundred  francs. 
He  now  thought  himself  on  the  high  road  to  the  full 
gratification  of  his  desires ;  but,  alas !  the  reality,  com- 
pared with  what  his  imagination  had  pictured,  ap- 
peared rank  and  chilling.  His  timidity  and  shyness  ar- 
rested all  his  progress ;  he  required  an  intimate  friend, 
and  where  could  he  hit  upon  one  ? 

One  evening  he  entered  the  Cafe  Castille.  He  found 
a  large  number  of  students  collected  there,  and  was  a 
little  disgusted  at  their  turbulent  gayety,  and,  hastily 
withdrawing,  he  spent  the  rest  of  the  weary  evening  in 
his  own  rooms  with  Bruno,  who,  for  his  part,  would 
have  much  preferred  the  open  country.  He  had  really 
only  enjoyed  the  four  evenings  on  which  he  had  visited 
the  Martre ;  but  these  limited  hours  of  happiness  did 
not  make  up  for  the  web  of  falsehood  in  which  he  had 
enmeshed  himself,  or  the  daily  dread  of  detection  in 
which  he  lived. 


36  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

The  Duke  had  noticed  his  son's  absence,  but  his  sus- 
picions were  very  wide  of  the  truth.  One  morning  he 
laughed  at  Norbert  on  the  continued  non-success  of  his 
shooting, 

"  Do  your  best  to-day,  my  boy,"  said  he,  "  and  try 
and  bring  home  some  game,  for  we  shall  have  a  guest 
to  dinner." 

"  To  dinner,  here  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  Duke  suppressing  a  smile. 
"  Yes,  actually  here ;  M.  Puymandour  is  coming,  and 
the  dining-room  must  be  opened  and  put  into  proper 
order." 

"  I  will  try  and  kill  some  game,"  answered  Norbert 
to  himself  as  he  started  on  his  errand. 

This,  however,  was  more  easily  resolved  on  than  ex- 
ecuted. At  last  he  caught  sight  of  an  impudent  rabbit 
near  a  hedge ;  he  raised  his  gun  and  fired.  A  shriek  of 
anguish  followed  the  report,  and  Bruno  dashed  into  the 
hedge,  barking  furiously. 


CHAPTER   V. 


A   BAD   START. 


Diana  de  Laurebourg  was  a  strange  compound; 
under  an  appearance  of  the  most  artless  simplicity  she 
concealed  an  iron  will,  and  had  hidden  from  every  one 
of  her  family,  and  even  from  her  most  intimate  friends, 
her  firm  resolve  to  become  the  Duchess  of  Champdoce. 
All  her  rambles  in  the  neighborhood  had  turned  out 
of  no  avail ;  and  as  the  weather  was  now  very  uncertain, 
it  seemed  as  if  her  long  strolls  in  the  country  roads  and 


A   BAD   START  37 

fields  would  soon  come  to  an  end.  "  The  day  must 
eventually  come,"  murmured  she,  "  when  this  invisible 
prince  must  make  his  appearance."  And  at  last  the 
long-expected  day  arrived. 

It  was  in  the  middle  of  the  month  of  November,  and 
thie  weather  was  exceedingly  soft  and  balmy  for  the 
time  of  year.  The  sky  was  blue,  the  few  remaining 
leaves  rustled  on  the  trees,  and  an  occasional  bird  whis- 
tled in  the  hedgerows.  Diana  de  Laurebourg  was 
walking  slowly  along  the  path  leading  to  Mussidan, 
when  all  at  once  she  heard  a  rustling  of  branches.  She 
turned  round  sharply,  and  all  the  blood  in  her  body 
seemed  to  rush  suddenly  to  her  heart,  for  through  an 
opening  in  the  hedge  she  caught  sight  of  the  man  who 
for  the  past  two  months  had  occupied  all  her  waking 
thoughts.  Norbert  was  waiting  for  something  with  all 
the  eagerness  of  a  sportsman,  his  finger  on  the. trig- 
ger of  his  gun. 

Here  was  the  opportunity  for  which  she  had  waited 
so  long,  and  with  such  ill-concealed  impatience ;  and  3'et 
she  could  derive  no  advantage  from  it,  for  what  would 
happen  ?  Simply  this :  Norbert  would  bow  to  her,  and 
she  would  reply  by  a  slight  inclination  of  her  head,  and 
perhaps  two  months  might  pass  away  before  she  met 
him  again.  Just  as  she  was  about  to  take  some  bold 
and  decisive  step  she  saw  Norbert  raise  his  gun  and 
point  it  in  her  direction.  She  endeavored  to  call  out  to 
him,  but  her  voice  failed  her,  and  in  another  moment 
the  report  rang  out,  and  she  felt  a  sharp  pang,  like  the 
touch  of  a  red-hot  iron  upon  her  ankle.  With  a  wild 
shriek  she  threw  up  her  arms  and  fell  upon  the  path- 
way. She  did  not  lose  her  senses,  for  she  heard  a  cry 
in  response  to  her  own,  and  the  crashing  of  something 
forcing  its  way  through  the  hedge.    Then  she  felt  a 


38  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

hot  breath  upon  her  face,  and  then  sometning  cold  and 
wet  touched  her  cheek.  She  opened  her  eyes  lan- 
guidly, and  saw  Bruno  licking  her  face  and  hands. 

At  the  same  moment  Norbert  dashed  through  the 
hedge  and  stood  before  her.  At  once  she  realized  the 
advantage  of  her  position  and  closed  her  eyes  once 
more.  Norbert,  as  he  hung  over  the  seemingly  uncon- 
scious form  of  this  fair  young  creature,  felt  that  his 
senses  were  deserting  him,  for  he  greatly  feared  that 
he  had  killed  Mademoiselle  de  Laurebourg.  His  first 
impulse  was  to  fly  precipitately,  and  his  second  to  give 
what  aid  he  couM  to  his  victim.  He  knelt  down  by  her, 
.and,  to  his  infinite  relief,  found  that  life  was  not  ex- 
tinct.   He  raised  her  beautiful  head. 

"  Speak  to  me,  mademoiselle,  I  entreat  you," 
cried  he. 

All  this  time  Diana  was  returning  thanks  to  kind 
Providence  for  the  fulfilment  of  her  wishes.  After  a 
time  she  made  a  slight  move,  and  Norbert  uttered  an 
exclamation  of  joy.  Then,  opening  her  beautiful  eyes, 
she  gazed  upon  the  young  man  with  the  air  of  a  person 
just  awaking  from  a  dream. 

"  It  is  I,"  faltered  the  distracted  young  man,  "  Nor- 
bert de  Champdoce.  But  forgive  me,  and  tell  me  if  you 
are  in  pain  ?  " 

Pity  came  over  the  wounded  girl.  She  gently  drew 
herself  away  from  the  arm  that  encircled  her,  and  said 
soflly, — 

"  It  is  I  who  ought  to  apologize  for  my  foolish  weak- 
ness; for  I  am  really  more  frightened  than  hurt." 

Norbert  felt  that  heaven  had  opened  before  his  very 
eyes.    "  Let  me  go  for  help,"  exclaimed  he. 

"  No,  no ;  it  was  a  mere  scratch."    And,  raising  her 


A   BAD    START  39 

skirt,  she  displayed  a  foot  that  might  have  turned  a 
steadier  head  than  Norbert's.  "  See,"  said  she,  "  it  is 
there  that  I  am  in  pain." 

And  she  pointed  to  a  spot  of  blood  upon  the  deHcate 
white  stocking.  At  the  sight  of  this  the  young  man's 
terror  increased,  and  he  started  to  his  feet. 

"  Let.  me  run  to  the  Chateau,"  said  he,  "  and  in  less 
than  an  hour " 

"  Do  nothing  of  the  kind,"  interrupted  the  girl ;  "  it 
is  a  mere  nothing.  Look,  I  can  move  my  foot  with 
ease." 

"  But  let  me  entreat  you " 

"  Hush !  we  shall  soon  see  what  it  is  that  has  hap- 
pened." And  she  inspected  what  she  laughingly  termed 
his  terrible  wound. 

It  was,  as  she  had  supposed,  a  mere  nothing.  One 
pellet  had  grazed  the  skin,  another  had  lodged  in  the 
flesh,  but  it  was  quite  on  the  surface. 

"  A  surgeon  must  see  to  this,"  said  Norbert. 

"  No,  no."  And  with  the  point  of  a  penknife  she 
pulled  out  the  little  leaden  shot  The  young  man  re- 
mained still,  holding  his  breath,  as  a  child  does  when  he 
is  putting  the  topmost  story  in  a  house  of  cards.  He 
had  never  heard  so  soft  a  voice,  never  gazed  on  so  per- 
fectly lovely  a  face.  In  the  meantime  Diana  had  torn 
up  her  handkerchief  and  bandaged  the  wound.  "  Now 
that  is  over,"  exclaimed  she,  with  a  light  laugh,  as  she 
extended  her  slender  fingers  to  Norbert,  so  that  he 
might  assist  her  to  rise. 

As  soon  as  she  was  on  her  feet,  she  took  a  few  steps 
with  the  prettiest  hmp  imaginable. 

"  Are  you  in  pain  ?  "  said  he  anxiously. 

"  No,  I  am  not  indeed ;  and  by  this  evening  I  shall 


40  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

have  forgotten  all  about  it.  But  confess,  Marquis/' 
she  added,  with  a  coquettish  laugh,  "  that  this  is  a 
droll  way  of  making  an  acquaintance." 

Norbert  started  at  the  word  Marquis,  for  no  one 
but  Daumon  had  ever  addressed  him  thus. 

"  She  does  not  despise  me,"  thought  he. 

"  This  little  incident  will  be  a  lesson  to  me,"  con- 
tinued she.  "  Mamma  always  has  told  me  to  keep  to 
the  highroad ;  but  I  preferred  the  by-paths  because  of 
the  lovely  scenery." 

Norbert,  for  the  first  time  in  his  life,  realized  that 
the  view  was  a  beautiful  one. 

"  I  am  this  way  nearly  every  day,"  pursued  Diana, 
"  though  I  am  very  wicked  to  disobey  my  mother.  I 
go  to  see  poor  La  Berven.  She  is  dying  of  consump- 
tion, poor  thing,  and  I  take  her  a  little  soup  and  wine 
every  now  and  then." 

She  spoke  like  a  real  Sister  of  Mercy,  and,  in  Nor- 
bert's  opinion,  wings  only  were  lacking  to  transform 
her  into  a  perfect  angel. 

"  The  poor  woman  has  three  children,  and  their 
father  does  nothing  for  them,  for  he  drinks  what  he 
earns,"  the  young  girl  went  on. 

Berven  was  one  of  the  identical  men  to  whom  Nor- 
bert had  given  his  promissory  note  for  four  thousand 
francs,  for  he  was  one  of  the  two  men  who  had  in- 
trusted Daumon  with  their  savings  for  investment ;  but 
the  young  man  was  not  in  a  condition  to  notice  this. 
Diana  had  meantime  slung  her  basket  on  her  arm. 

"  Before  I  leave  you  to-day,"  said  she,  "  I  should  so 
much  like  to  ask  a  favor  of  you." 

"  A  favor  of  me,  mademoiselle?  " 

"  Yes ;  oblige  me  by  saying  nothing  of  what  has  oc- 
curred to-day  to  any  one;  for  should  it  come  to  my 


A    BAD    START  41 

parents'  ears,  they  would  undoubtedly  deprive  me  of 
the  little  liberty  that  they  now  grant  me." 

"  Mademoiselle,"  answered  Norbert,  "  be  sure  that 
I  will  never  mention  the  terrible  accident  that  my  awk- 
wardness has  caused.'* 

"  Thank  you,  Marquis,"  answered  the  girl,  with  a 
half-mocking  courtesy.  "  Another  time  let  me  advise 
you,  before  you  shoot,  to  look  that  no  one  is  behind  a 
hedge." 

With  these  words  she  tripped  away,  without  her  tiny 
feet  showing  any  signs  of  lameness.  She  had  read 
Norbert's  heart  like  the  pages  of  a  book,  and  felt  that 
there  was  every  chance  of  her  winning  the  game.  "  I 
am  sure  of  it  now,"  said  she ;  "  I  shall  be  the  Duchess  of 
Champdoce."  How  grateful  she  felt  for  that  untimely 
shot!  and  she  felt  sure  that  Norbert  had  understood 
what  she  meant  when  she  had  said  that  she  went  along 
that  path.  She  felt  certain  that  the  young  man  had  not 
lost  one  word.  She  believed  that  the  only  opposition 
would  come  from  his  father.  As  she  looked  round 
for  a  moment,  she  saw  Norbert  standing  fixed  and 
motionless  as  the  trees  around  him. 

After  Diana  had  departed,  the  unhappy  lad  felt  as  if 
she  had  taken  half  his  life  with  her.  Was  it  all  a 
dream  ?  He  knelt  down,  and,  after  a  slight  search,  dis- 
covered the  little  pellet,  the  cause  of  all  the  mischief; 
and,  taking  it  up  carefully,  returned  home.  To  his 
extreme  surprise,  he  found  the  main  gateway  wide 
open,  and  from  a  window  he  heard  his  father's  voice 
calling  out  in  kindly  accents, — 

"  Come  up  quickly,  my  boy,  for  our  guest  has 
arrived." 


42  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

CHAPTER   VI. 

THE   COUNT  DE   PUYMANDOUR. 

Since  the  death  of  the  Duchess  of  Champdoce  the 
greater  portion  of  the  Chateau  had  been  closed,  but  the 
reception  rooms  were  always  ready  to  be  used  at  a  very 
short  notice. 

The  dining-room  was  a  really  magnificent  apartment. 
There  were  massive  buffets  of  carved  oak,  black  with 
age,  ornamented  with  brass  mountings.  The  shelves 
groaned  beneath  their  load  of  goblets  and  salvers  of 
the  brightest  silver,  engraved  with  the  haughty  armo- 
rial bearings  of  the  house  of  Champdoce. 

Standing  near  one  of  the  windows,  Norbert  saw  a 
man,  stout,  robust,  bald  and  red-faced,  wearing  a  mus- 
tache and  slight  beard.  His  clothes  were  evidently 
made  by  a  first-rate  tailor,  but  his  appearance  was  ut- 
terly commonplace. 

"  This  is  my  son,"  said  the  Duke,  "  the  Marquis  de 
Champdoce.  Marquis,  let  me  introduce  you  to  the 
Count  de  Puymandour." 

This  was  the  first  time  that  his  father  had  ever  ad- 
dressed Norbert  by  his  title,  and  he  was  greatly  sur- 
prised. The  great  clock  in  the  outer  hall,  which  had 
not  been  going  for  fifteen  years,  now  struck,  and  in- 
stantly a  butler  appeared,  bearing  a  massive  silver  soup 
tureen,  which  he  placed  on  the  table,  announcing  sol- 
emnly that  his  Grace  was  served,  and  the  little  party  at 
once  seated  themselves.  A  dinner  in  such  a  vast  cham- 
ber would  have  been  rather  dull  had  it  not  been  en- 
livened by  the  amusing  tales  and  witty  anecdotes  of  the 
Count  de  Puymandour,  which  he  narrated  in  a  jovial 


THE   COUNT   DE   PUYMANDOUR        45, 

but  rather  vulgar  manner,  seasoned  with  bursts  of 
laughter.  He  ate  with  an  excellent  appetite,  and 
praised  the  quality  of  the  wine,  which  the  Duke  himself 
had  chosen  from  the  cellar,  which  he  had  filled  with 
an  immense  stock  for  the  benefit  of  his  descendants.. 
The  Duke,  who  was  generally  so  silent  and  morose, 
smiled  buoyantly,  and  appeared  to  enjoy  the  plea- 
santries of  his  guest.  Was  this  only  the  duty  of  the 
host,  or  did  his  geniality  conceal  some  hidden  scheme  ? 
Norbert  was  utterly  unable  to  settle  this  question,  for 
though  not  gifted  with  much  penetration,  he  hac^ 
studied  his  father's  every  look  as  a  slave  studies  his^ 
master,  and  knew  exactly  what  annoyed  and  what 
pleased  him. 

The  Count  de  Puymandour  lived  in  a  magnificent 
house,  with  his  daughter  Marie,  about  three  miles 
from  Champdoce,  and  he  was  exceedingly  fond  of  en- 
tertaining; but  the  gentry,  who  did  not  for  a  moment 
decline  to  accept  his  grand  dinners,  did  not  hesitate  ta 
say  that  Puymandour  was  a  thief  and  a  rogue.  Had  he- 
been  convicted  of  larceny,  he  could  not  have  been 
spoken  of  with  more  disdainful  contempt.  But  he  was- 
very  wealthy,  and  possessed  at  least  five  millions  of 
francs.  Of  course  this  was  an  excellent  reason  for 
hating  him,  but  the  fact  was,  that  Puymandour  was  a 
very  worthy  man,  and  had  made  his  money  by  specula- 
tion in  wool  on  the  Spanish  frontier.  For  a  long  period 
he  had  lived  happy  and  respected  in  his  native  town  of 
Orthez,  when  all  at  once  he  was  tempted  by  the  thought 
of  titular  rank,  and  from  that  time  his  life  was  one 
long  misery.  He  took  the  name  of  one  of  his  estates, 
he  bought  his  title  in  Italy,  and  ordered  his  coat-of- 
arms  from  a  heraldic  agent  in  Paris,  and  now  his  am- 
bition was  to  be  treated  as  a  real  nobleman.    The  mere 


44  THE    CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

fact  of  dining  with  the  eccentric  Duke  de  Champdoce, 
who  never  invited  any  one  to  his  table,  was  to  him,  as 
it  were,  a  real  patent  of  nobility. 

At  ten  o'clock  he  rose  and  declared  he  must  leave, 
and  the  Duke  escorted  him  the  length  of  the  avenue  to 
the  great  gates  opening  on  the  main  road,  and  Norbert, 
who  walked  a  few  paces  in  the  rear,  caught  now  and 
then  a  few  words  of  their  conversation. 

"  Yes,"  remarked  Puymandour,  "  I  will  give  a  mill- 
ion down." 

Then  came  a  few  words  from  the  Duke,  of  which 
Norbert  could  only  catch  the  words,  "  thousands  and 
millions." 

He  paid,  however,  but  little  attention,  for  his  mind 
was  many  miles  away.  Since  the  unlooked-for  meet- 
ing with  that  fair  young  face,  he  had  thought  of  noth- 
ing else,  and  he  mechanically  shook  hands  with,  and 
bade  his  guest  "  Good-night "  when  his  father  did. 

When  the  Duke  was  sure  that  M.  de  Puymandour 
could  not  hear  his  voice,  he  took  his  son  by  the  arm, 
and  the  bitterness  of  feeling  which  he  had  so  long  re- 
pressed burst  forth  in  words. 

"  This,"  said  he,  "  is  a  specimen  of  the  mushroom 
aristocracy  that  has  sprung  up,  and  not  a  bad  sample 
either ;  for  though  he  is  puffed  up  by  ridiculous  vanity, 
the  man  is  shrewd  and  intelligent  enough,  and  his  de- 
scendants, who  will  have  the  advantages  of  a  better 
education  than  their  progenitors,  will  form  a  new  class, 
with  more  wealth  and  as  much  influence  as  the 
old  one." 

For  more  than  an  hour  the  Duke  de  Champdoce  en- 
larged on  his  favorite  topic ;  but  he  might  as  well  have 
been  alone,  for  his  son  paid  no  attention  to  what  he 
said,  for  his  mind  was  still  dwelling  upon  his  ad- 


THE   COUNT   DE   PUYMANDOUR        45 

ventures  of  the  morning.  Again  that  sweet,  soft  laugh, 
and  that  modulated  voice  rang  in  his  ears.  How  fool- 
ish he  must  have  seemed  to  her !  and  what  a  ridiculous 
figure  he  must  have  cut  in  her  eyes !  He  had  by  no 
means  omitted  to  engrave  on  the  tablet  of  his  memory 
the  fact  that  Diana  passed  daily  down  the  little  path  on 
her  errand  of  bounty,  and  that  there  he  had  the  chance 
of  again  seeing  her.  He  fancied  that  he  had  so  much 
to  say  to  her;  but  as  he  found  that  his  bashfulness 
would  deprive  him  of  the  power  of  utterance,  he  de- 
termined to  commit  his  sentiments  to  paper.  That 
night  he  composed  and  destroyed  some  fifty  letters. 
He  did  not  dare  to  say  openly,  "  I  love  you,"  and  yet 
that  was  exactly  what  he  wanted  to  express,  and  he 
strove,  but  in  vain,  to  find  words  which  would  veil  its 
abruptness  and  yet  disclose  the  whole  strength  of  his 
feelings.  At  last,  however,  one  of  his  efforts  satisfied 
him.  Rising  early,  he  snatched  up  his  gun,  and  whis- 
tling to  Bruno,  made  his  way  to  the  spot  where  he  had 
the  day  before  seen  Diana  stretched  upon  the  ground. 
But  he  waited  in  vain,  and  hour  after  hour  passed 
away,  as  he  paced  up  and  down  in  an  agony  of  sus- 
pense. Diana  did  not  come.  The  young  lady  had  con- 
sidered her  plans  thoroughly  and  kept  away.  The 
next  day  he  might  have  been  again  disappointed  but 
for  a  lucky  circumstance.  Norbert  was  seated  on  the 
turf,  awaiting  with  fond  expectation  the  young  girl's 
approach  and  as  Diana  passed  the  opening  to  the  path- 
way Bruno  scented  her,  and  rushed  forward  with  a 
joyous  bark.  She  had  then  no  option  but  to  walk  up 
to  the  spot  where  Norbert  was  seated.  Both  the  young 
people  were  for  the  moment  equally  embarrassed,  and 
Norbert  stood  silent,  holding  in  his  hand  the  letter 
which  had  caused  him  so  much  labor  to  indite. 


46  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

"  I  have  ventured  to  wait  for  you  here,  mademoi- 
selle," said  he  in  a  voice  which  trembled  with  sup- 
pressed emotion,  "  because  I  was  full  of  anxiety  to 
Icnow  how  you  have  been.  How  did  you  contrive  to  re- 
turn home  with  your  wounded  foot  ?  " 

He  paused,  awaiting  a  word  of  encouragement,  but 
the  girl  made  no  reply,  and  he  continued, — 

"  I  was  tempted  to  call  and  make  inquiries  at  your 
father's  house,  but  you  had  forbidden  me  to  speak  of 
the  accident,  and  I  did  not  dare  to  disobey  you." 

"  I  thank  you  sincerely,"  faltered  Diana. 

"  Yesterday,"  the  young  man  went  on,  "  I  passed  the 
whole  day  here.  Are  you  angry  with  me  for  my  stu- 
pidity ?  I  had  thought  that  perhaps  you  had  noticed  my 
anxiety,  and  might  have  deigned  to " 

He  stopped  short,  terrified  at  his  own  audacity. 

"  Yesterday,"  returned  Diana  with  the  most  ingenu- 
ous air  in  the  world,  and  not  appearing  to  perceive  the 
young  man's  embarrassment,  "  I  was  detained  at  home 
by  my  mother." 

"  Yes,"  replied  he,  "  for  the  past  two  days  your  form, 
lying  senseless  and  bleeding  on  the  ground,  has  ever 
been  before  my  eyes,  for  I  felt  as  if  I  were  a  murderer. 
I  shall  always  see  your  pale,  white  face,  and  how,  when 
I  raised  up  your  head  it  rested  on  my  arm  for  a  mo- 
ment, and  all  the  rapture " 

"  You  must  not  talk  like  that,  Marquis,"  interrupted 
Diana,  but  she  spoke  in  such  a  low  tone  that  Norbert 
did  not  hear  her  and  went  on, — 

"  When  I  saw  you  yesterday  my  feelings  so  overpow- 
ered me  that  I  could  not  put  them  into  words ;  but  as 
soon  as  you  had  left  me,  it  appeared  as  if  all  grew  dark 
around  me,  and  throwing  myself  on  my  knees,  I 
searched  for  the  tiny  leaden  pellet  that  might  have 


THE   COUNT   DE   PUYMANDOUR        47 

caused  your  death.  I  at  last  found  it,  and  no  treasure 
upon  earth  will  ever  be  more  prized  by  me." 

To  avoid  showing  the  gleam  of  joy  that  flashed  from 
her  eyes,  Diana  was  compelled  to  turn  her  head  on  one 
side. 

"  Forgive  me,  mademoiselle,"  said  Norbert,  in  de- 
spair, as  he  noticed  this  movement ;  "  forgive  me  if  I 
have  offended  you.  Could  you  but  know  how  dreary 
my  past  life  has  been,  you  would  pardon  me.  It  seemed, 
to  me,  the  very  moment  that  I  saw  you,  I  had  found  a 
woman  who  would  feel  some  slight  interest  in  me,  and 
that  for  her  sweet  compassion  I  would  devote  my  whole 
life  to  her.  But  now  I  see  how  mad  and  foolish  I  have 
been,  and  I  am  plunged  into  the  depths  '  of  despair.'  " 

"  At  your  age.  Marquis,  you  must  not  make  use  of 
a  word  like  despair." 

She  accompanied  these  words  with  a  glance  suffi- 
ciently tender  to  restore  all  Norbert's  courage. 

"  Ah,  mademoiselle,"  said  he ;  "  do  not  trifle  with  me^ 
for  that  would  be  too  cruel." 

She  let  her  head  droop  on  her  bosom,  and,  falling 
upon  his  knees,  he  poured  a  stream  of  impassioned 
kisses  upon  her  hands.  Diana  felt  herself  swept  away 
by  this  stream  of  passion ;  she  gasped,  and  her  fingers 
trembled,  as  she  found  that  she  was  trapped  in  the 
same  snare  that  she  had  set  for  another.  Her  reason 
warned  her  that  she  must  bring  this  dangerous  inter- 
view to  a  conclusion. 

"  I  am  forgetting  all  about  my  poor  pensioners,"  said 
she. 

"Ah,  if  I  might  but  accompany  you !  " 

"  And  so  you  may,  but  you  must  walk  fast." 

It  is  quite  true  that  great  events  spring  from  very 
trivial  sources ;  and  had  Diana  gone  to  visit  La  Besson, 


48  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

Norbert  might  have  heard  something  concerning  Dau- 
mon  that  would  have  put  him  on  his  guard;  but,  un- 
fortunately, to-day  Diana  was  bound  on  a  visit  to  an  old 
woman  in  another  part  of  the  parish. 

Norbert  looked  on  whilst  this  fair  young  creature 
busied  herself  in  her  work  of  charity,  and  then  he 
silently  placed  two  louis  from  the  money  he  had  bor- 
rowed, on  the  table,  and  left  the  cottage.  Diana  fol- 
lowed him,  and,  laying  her  finger  upon  her  lips  with  the 
significant  word  "  to-morrow,^'  turned  down  the  path 
that  led  to  her  father's  house.  Norbert  could  hardly 
believe  his  senses  when  he  found  himself  again  alone. 
Yes,  this  lovely  girl  had  almost  confessed  her  affection 
for  him,  and  he  was  ready  to  pour  out  his  life  blood  for 
her.  He  tore  up  the  letter  which  had  cost  him  so  much 
trouble  to  compose,  for  he  felt  that  he  could  make  no 
use  of  it.  He  had  now  no  anxieties  regarding  the  fu- 
ture, and  he  thanked  Providence  for  having  caused  him 
to  meet  Diana  de  Laurebourg.  It  never  entered  his 
brain  that  this  apparently  frank  and  open-hearted  girl 
had  materially  furthered  the  acts  of  Providence.  At 
supper  that  night  he  was  so  gay,  and  in  such  expedient 
spifits,  that  even  his  father's  attention  was  at  last  at- 
tracted, 

"  I  would  lay  a  wager,  my  boy,"  remarked  the 
Duke,  "  that  you  have  had  a  good  day's  sport." 

"  You  would  win  your  wager,"  answered  the  young 
man  boldly. 

His  father  did  not  pursue  the  subject  further;  but 
as  Norbert  felt  that  he  must  give  some  color  to  his  as- 
sertion, he  stopped  the  next  day,  and  purchased  some 
quails  and  a  hare.  He  waited  fully  half  an  hour  for 
Diana ;  and  when  she  did  appear,  her  pale  face  and  the 


THE   COUNT   DE    PUYMANDOUR        49 

dark  marks  under  her  eyes  showed  that  anxiety  had 
caused  her  to  pass  a  sleepless  night. 

No  sooner  had  she  parted  from  Norbert  than  she 
saw  the  risk  that  she  was  running  by  her  imprudent 
conduct.  She  was  endangering  her  whole  future  and 
her  reputation, — all  indeed  that  is  most  precious  to  a 
young  girl.  For  an  instant  the  thought  of  confiding 
all  to  her  parents  entered  her  brain;  but  she  rejected 
the  idea  almost  as  soon  as  she  had  conceived  it,  for 
she  felt  that  her  father  would  believe  that  the  parsi- 
monious Duke  de  Champdoce  would  never  consent  to 
such  a  marriage,  and  that  her  entire  liberty  would  be 
taken  from  her,  and  that  she  might  even  be  sent  back 
to  the  convent. 

"  I  cannot  stop  now,"  she  murmured,  "  and  must  be 
content  to  run  all  risks  to  effect  an  object  in  which  I 
am  now  doubly  interested." 

Diana  and  Norbert  had  a  long  conversation  togetlier 
on  this  day  in  a  spot  which  had  become  so  dear  to 
them  both,  and  it  was  only  the  approach  of  a  peasant 
that  recalled  the  girl  to  the  sense  of  her  rash  impru- 
dence, and  she  insisted  on  going  on  her  ostensible  er- 
rand of  charity.  Norbert,  as  before,  escorted  her,  and 
even  went  so  far  as  to  offer  his  arm,  upon  which  she 
pressed  when  the  road  was  steep  or  uneven. 

These  meetings  took  place  daily,  and  after  a  few 
short  minutes  spent  in  conversation,  the  young  lovers 
would  set  off  on  a  ramble.  More  than  once  they  were 
met  by  the  villagers,  and  a  little  scandal  began  to  arise. 
This  was  very  imprudent  on  Diana's  side;  but  it  had 
been  a  part  of  her  plan  to  permit  her  actions  to  be 
talked  of  by  the  tongue  of  scandal.  Unfortunately  the 
end  of  November  was  approaching,  and  the  weather 


so  THE    CHAAiPDOCE   MYSTERY 

growing  extremely  cold.  One  morning,  as  Norbert 
arose  from  his  couch,  he  found  that  a  sharp  icy  blast 
was  swaying  the  bare  branches  of  the  trees,  and  that 
the  rain  was  descending  in  torrents.  On  such  a  day  as 
this  he  knew  that  it  was  vain  to  expect  Diana,  and, 
with  his  heart  full  of  sadness,  he  took  up  a  book  and 
sat  himself  down  by  the  huge  fire  that  blazed  in  the 
great  hall. 

Mademoiselle  de  Laurebourg  had,  however,  gone  out, 
but  it  was  in  a  carriage,  and  she  had  driven  to  a  cot- 
tage to  see  a  poor  woman  who  had  broken  her  leg,  and 
who  had  nothing  but  the  scanty  earnings  of  her  daugh- 
ter Frangoise  upon  which  to  exist.  As  soon  as  Diana 
entered  the  cottage  she  saw  that  something  had  gone 
wrong. 

"  What  is  the  matter  ?  "  asked  she. 

The  poor  creature,  with  garrulous  volubility,  exhib- 
ited a  summons  which  she  had  just  received,  and  said 
that  she  owed  three  hundred  francs,  and  that  as  she 
could  no  longer  pay  the  interest,  she  had  been  sum- 
moned, and  that  her  little  property  would  be  seized, 
and  so  a  finishing  stroke  would  be  put  to  her  troubles. 

"  It  is  the  Counsellor,"  said  she,  "  that  rogue  Dau- 
mon,  who  has  done  all  this." 

The  poor  woman  went  on  to  say  that  when  she  went 
to  her  creditor  to  implore  a  little  delay,  he  had  scofifingly 
told  her  to  send  her  pretty  daughter  to  him  to  plead  her 
cause. 

Mademoiselle  de  Laurebourg  was  disgusted  at  this 
narrative,  and  her  eyes  gleamed  with  anger. 

"  I  will  see  this  wicked  man,"  said  she,  "  and  will 
come  back  to  you  at  once." 

She  drove  straight  to  the  Counsellor's  house.  Dau- 
mon  was  engaged  in  writing  when  the  housekeeper 


THE    COUNT    DE    PUYMANDOUR        51 

ushered  Diana  into  the  office.  He  rose  to  his  feet,  and, 
taking  off  his  velvet  skull  cap,  made  a  profound  bow, 
advancing  at  the  same  time  a  chair  for  his  visitor's 
accommodation. 

Though  Diana  knew  nothing  of  this  man,  she  was 
not  so  unsophisticated  as  Norbert,  and  was  not  imposed 
upon  by  the  air  of  servile  obsequiousness  that  he  as- 
sumed. With  a  gesture  of  contempt,  she  declined  the 
proffered  seat,  and  this  act  made  Daumon  her  bitter 
enemy. 

"  I  have  come,"  said  she  in  the  cold,  disdainful  words 
in  which  young  girls  of  high  birth  address  their  in- 
feriors,— "  I  have  come  to  you  from  Widow  Rouleau." 

"  Ah !  you  know  the  poor  creature  then  ?  " 

"  Yes,  and  I  take  a  great  interest  in  her." 

"  You  are  a  very  kind  young  lady,"  answered  the 
Counsellor  with  a  sinister  smile. 

"  The  poor  woman  is  in  the  most  terrible  distress 
both  of  mind  and  body.  She  is  confined  to  her  bed 
with  a  fractured  limb,  and  without  any  means  of 
support." 

"  Yes,  I  heard  of  her  accident." 

"  And  yet  you  sent  her  a  summons,  and  are  ready  to 
seize  all  she  possesses  in  the  world." 

Daumon  put  on  an  air  of  sympathy. 

"  Poor  thing !  "  said  he.  "  How  true  it  is  that  mis- 
fortunes never  come  singly !  " 

Diana  was  disgusted  at  the  man's  cool  effrontery. 

"  It  seems  to  me,"  answered  she,  "  that  her  last 
trouble  is  of  your  making." 

"  Is  it  possible  ?  " 

"  Why,  who  is  it  but  you  who  are  the  persecutor  of 
this  poor  lone  creature  ?  " 

"  I !  "  answered  he  in  extreme  astonishment ;  "  do 


52  THE    CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

you  really  think  that  it  is  I  ?  Ah !  mademoiselle,  why 
do  you  listen  to  the  cruel  tongues  of  scandal-mongers  ? 
To  make  a  long  story  short,  this  poor  woman  bought 
barley,  corn,  potatoes,  and  three  sheep  from  a  man  in 
the  neighborhood,  who  gave  her  credit  to  the  extent  of 
I  daresay  three  hundred  francs.  Well,  in  time,  the 
man  asked — most  naturally — for  his  money,  and  fail- 
ing to  get  it,  came  to  me.  I  urged  him  to  wait,  but  he 
would  not  listen  to  me,  and  vowed  that  if  I  did  not  do 
as  he  wished  he  would  go  to  some  one  else.  What  was 
I  to  do  ?  He  had  the  law  on  his  side  too.  Ah !  "  con- 
tinued he,  as  though  speaking  to  himself,  "  if  I  could 
only  see  a  way  of  getting  this  poor  creature  out  of  her 
trouble !  but  that  cannot  be  done  without  money." 

He  opened  a  drawer  and  pulled  out  about  fifty 
francs. 

"  This  is  all  my  worldly  wealth,"  said  he  sadly. 
"  But  how  foolish  I  am !  for,  of  course,  when  poor 
Widow  Rouleau  has  a  wealthy  young  lady  to  take  an 
interest  in  her,  she  must  have  no  further  fear." 

"  I  will  speak  to  my  father  on  the  matter,"  answered 
Diana  in  ^  voice  which  showed  that  she  had  but  little 
hope  of  interesting  him  in  the  widow's  misfortunes. 

Daumon's  face  fell. 

*'  You  will  go  to  the  Marquis  de  Laurebourg  ? " 
asked  he.  "  Now,  if  you  would  take  my  advice,  I 
should  say,  go  to  some  intimate  friend, — to  the  Mar- 
quis de  Champdoce,  for  instance.  I  know,"  he  went 
on,  "  that  the  Duke  does  not  make  his  son  a  very 
handsome  allowance;  but  the  young  gentleman  will 
find  no  difficulty  in  raising  whatever  he  may  desire — 
as  it  will  not  be  long  before  he  is  of  age — without 
counting  his  marriage,  which  will  put  an  enormous 
sum  at  his  disposal  even  before  that." 


THE   COUNT   DE    PUYMANDOUR        53 

Diana  fell  in  an  instant  into  the  trap  the  wily  Dau- 
mon  had  laid  for  her. 

"  A  marriage !  "  exclaimed  she. 

"  I  know  very  little  about  it ;  only  I  know  that  if 
the  young  man  wishes  to  marry  without  his  father's 
consent,  he  will  have  to  wait  at  least  five  years.'' 

"  Five  years  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  the  law  requires  that  a  young  man  who  mar- 
ries against  his  father's  desire  should  be  twenty-five 
years  of  age." 

This  last  stroke  was  so  totally  unexpected,  that  the 
girl  lost  her  head. 

"  Impossible !  "  cried  she.  "  Are  you  not  making  a 
mistake  ?  " 

The  Counsellor  gave  a  quiet  smile  of  triumph. 

"  I  am  not  mistaken,"  said  he,  and  calmly  pointed 
out  in  the  code  the  provision  to  which  he  had  alluded. 
As  Diana  read  the  passage  to  which  his  finger  pointed, 
he  watched  her  as  a  cat  watches  a  mouse. 

"After  all,  what  does  it  matter  to  me?"  remarked 
Diana,  making  an  effort  to  recover  herself.  "  I  will 
speak  about  this  poor  woman's  case  to  my  father ; " 
and,  with  her  limbs  bending  under  her,  she  left  the 
room. 

As  Daumon  returned  from  accompanying  her  to  the 
door,  the  Counsellor  rubbed  his  hands. 

"  Things  are  getting  decidedly  warm,"  muttered  he. 

He  felt  that  he  must  gain  some  further  information, 
and  this  he  could  not  get  from  Norbert.  It  would  be 
also  as  well,  he  thought,  to  tell  the  sheriff  to  stay  pro- 
ceedings relative  to  the  Widow  Rouleau.  By  this  means 
he  might  secure  another  interview  with  Mademoiselle 
de  Laurebourg,  and  perhaps  win  the  poor  girl's  con- 
fidence. 


54  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

As  Diana  rode  home,  she  abandoned  herself  to  the 
grief  which  the  intelHgence  that  she  had  just  heard 
had  caused  her,  for  the  foresight  of  the  framers  of  the 
law  had  rendered  all  her  deeply  laid  plans  of  no  avail. 

"  The  Duke  de  Champdoce,"  murmured  she  to  her- 
self, "  will  never  consent  to  his  son's  marriage  with  so 
scantily  a  dowered  woman  as  I  am ;  but  as  soon  as  Nor- 
bert  is  of  age  he  can  marry  me,  in  spite  of  all  his 
father's  opposition ;  but,  oh !  'tis  a  dreary  time  to  wait." 

For  a  moment  she  dared  to  think  of  the  possible 
death  of  the  old  man ;  but  she  shuddered  as  she  remem- 
bered how  strong  and  healthy  he  was,  and  felt  that  the 
frail  edifice  of  her  hope  had  been  crushed  into  ten  thou- 
sand atoms.  For  all  this,  however,  she  did  not  lose 
courage.  She  was  not  one  of  those  women  who,  at  the 
first  check,  beat  a  retreat.  She  had  not  yet  decided 
upon  a  fresh  point  of  departure,  but  she  had  fully 
made  up  her  mind  that  she  would  gain  the  victory. 
The  first  thing  was  to  see  Norbert  with  as  little  delay 
as  possible.  Just  then  the  carriage  pulled  up  at  the 
widow's  cottage,  which  she  entered  hastily. 

"  I  have  seen  Daumon,"  said  she.  "  Do  not  be 
alarmed;  all  matters  will  be  arranged  shortly." 

Then,  without  listening  to  the  thanks  and  blessings 
which  the  poor  woman  showered  upon  her,  she  said, — 

"  Give  me  a  piece  of  paper  to  write  on,"  and,  stand- 
ing near  the  casement,  she  wrote  in  pencil  on  a  soiled 
scrap  of  paper  the  following  words : — 

"  Diana  would,  perhaps,  have  been  at  the  usual  meet- 
ing place  to-day,  in  spite  of  the  weather,  had  she  not 
been  compelled  to  visit  a  poor  woman  in  a  contrary  di- 
rection. Upon  the  same  business,  she  will  have  to  call 
to-morrow  at  the  house  of  a  man  named  Daumon.'* 


THE    COUNT   DE   PUYMANDOUR        55 

She  folded  the  note  and  said, — 

"  This  letter  must  be  taken  at  once  to  M.  Norbert  de 
Champdoce.    Who  will  carry  it  ?  " 

FranQoise  had  made  a  smock  frock  for  one  of  the 
farm  servants  at  Champdoce,  and  the  delivery  of  it 
formed  a  good  excuse  for  going  up  to  the  Chateau,  and 
she  willingly  undertook  the  errand. 

The  next  day,  in  the  midst  of  a  heavy  shower  of  rain, 
Norbert  made  his  appearance  at  Daumon's  office,  say- 
ing, as  a  pretext  for  his  visit,  that  he  had  exhausted 
his  stock  of  money,  and  required  a  fresh  supply.  He 
too  was  feeling  very  unhappy,  for  he  feared  that  his 
father  might  entertain  matrimonial  designs  for  him 
which  would  be  utterly  opposed  to  his  passion  for 
Mademoiselle  de  Laurebourg. 

Had  not  the  inexorable  old  man  once  said,  "  You  will 
marry  a  woman  of  wealth  "  ?  But  in  the  event  of  this 
matter  being  brought  up,  Norbert  swore  that  he  would 
no  longer  be  obedient,  but  would  resist  to  the  last ;  and 
he  calculated  on  receiving  assistance  from  Daumon. 
He  was  on  the  point  of  referring  to  this  matter,  when  a 
carriage  drew  up  at  the  door  of  the  cottage,  and  Made- 
moiselle de  Laurebourg  descended  from  it.  Dau- 
mon at  once  saw  how  matters  stood,  and  wasted  no  time 
in  addressing  Diana. 

"  The  sheriff  will  stop  proceedings,"  said  he.  "  I 
can  show  you  his  letter  to  that  effect." 

He  turned  away,  and  searched  as  diligently  for  the 
letter  as  if  it  had  existed  anywhere  except  in  his  own 
imagination. 

"  Dear  me,"  said  he  at  length.  "  I  cannot  find  it. 
I  must  have  left  it  in  the  other  room.  I  have  so  much 
to  do,  that  really  there  are  times  when  I  forget  every- 


$6  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

thing.  I  must  find  it,  however.  Excuse  me,  I  will  be 
back  immediately." 

His  sudden  departure  from  the  room  had  been  a 
mere  matter  of  calculation;  for,  guessing  that  an  as- 
signation had  been  planned,  he  thought  that  he  might 
know  what  took  place  at  it  by  a  little  eavesdropping. 
He  therefore  applied  first  his  ear  and  then  his  eye  to  the 
keyhole,  and  by  these  means  acquired  all  the  informa- 
tion he  desired. 

■A  moment  of  privacy  with  the  object  of  his  aflFections 
seemed  to  Norbert  an  inestimable  boon.  When  Diana 
had  first  entered,  he  was  horrified  at  the  terrible  altera- 
tion that  had  taken  place  in  the  expression  of  her  face. 
He  seized  her  hand,  which  she  made  no  effort  to  with- 
draw, and  gazed  fixedly  into  her  eyes. 

"  Tell  me,"  murmured  he  in  accents  of  love  and  ten- 
derness, "  what  it  is  that  has  gone  wrong." 

Diana  sighed,  then  a  tear  coursed  slowly  down  her 
cheek.  Norbert  was  in  the  deepest  despair  at  these 
signs  of  grief. 

"  Great  heavens !  "  cried  he.  "  Will  you  not  trust 
me  ?    Am  not  I  your  truest  and  most  devoted  friend  ?  " 

At  first  she  refused  to  answer  him,  but  at  length  she 
yielded  to  his  entreaties,  and  confessed  that  the  evening 
before  her  father  had  informed  her  that  a  young  man 
had  sought  her  hand  in  marriage,  and  one  who  was  a 
perfectly  eligible  suitor. 

Norbert  listened  to  this  avowal,  trembling  from  head 
to  foot,  with  a  sudden  access  of  jealousy. 

"  And  did  you  make  no  objections?  "  asked  he. 

"  How  could  I  ?  "  retorted  she.  "  What  can  a  girl 
do  in  opposition  to  the  will  of  all  her  family,  when  she 
has  to  choose  between  the  alternative  that  she  loathes, 
or  a  life-long  seclusion  in  a  convent?  " 


THE    COUNT    DE    PUYMANDOUR        57 

Daumon  shook  with  laughter,  as  he  kept  his  ear 
closely  to  the  keyhole. 

"  Good  business,"  muttered  he.  "  Not  so  bad. 
Here's  a  little  girl  from  a  convent.  She  has  a  clever 
brain  and  a  glib  tongue,  and  under  my  tuition  would  be 
a  perfect  wonder.  If  this  country  booby  does  not  make 
an  open  declaration  at  once,  I  wonder  what  her  next 
move  will  be  ?  " 

"  And  you  hesitated,"  said  Norbert  reproachfully. 
"  Remember  you  may  escape  from  the  walls  of  the  con- 
vent, but  not  from  the  bonds  of  an  ill-assorted  mar- 
riage." 

Diana,  who  looked  more  beautiful  than  ever  in  her 
despair,  wrung  her  hands. 

"  What  reason  can  I  give  to  my  father  for  declin- 
ing this  offer?  "  said  she.  "  Every  one  knows  that  I  am 
almost  portionless,  and  that  I  am  sacrificed  to  my 
brother,  immolated  upon  the  altar  erected  before  the 
cruel  idol  of  family  pride ;  and  how  dare  I  refuse  a 
suitable  offer  when  one  is  made  for  my  hand  ?  " 

"  Have  you  forgotten  me  ?  "  cried  Norbert.  "  Have 
you  no  love  for  me  ?  " 

"  Ah,  my  poor  friend,  you  are  no  more  free  than  I 
am." 

"  Then  you  look  on  me  as  a  mere  weak  boy  ?  "  asked 
he,  biting  his  lips. 

"  Your  father  is  very  powerful,"  answered  she  in 
tones  of  the  deepest  resignation ;  "  his  determination  is 
inflexible,  and  his  will  inexorable.  You  are  completely 
in  his  power." 

"  What  do  I  care  for  my  father  ?  "  cried  the  young 
man  fiercely.  "  Am  not  I  a  Champdoce  too  ?  Woe 
be  to  any  one,  father  or  stranger,  who'  comes  between 
me  and  the  woman  I  love  devotedly;  for  I  do  love 


58  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

yOn,  Diana,  and  no  mortal  man  shall  take  you  from 
me." 

He  clasped  Diana  to  his  breast,  and  pressed  a  loving 
kiss  upon  her  lips. 

"  Aha,"  muttered  Daumon,  who  had  lost  nothing 
from  his  post  of  espial,  "  this  is  worth  fifty  thousand 
francs  at  least  to  me." 

For  a  moment  Diana  remained  clasped  in  her  lover's 
embrace,  and  then,  with  a  faint  cry,  released  herself 
from  him.  She  then  felt  that  she  loved  him,  and  his 
kiss  and  caresses  sent  a  thrill  like  liquid  fire  through 
her  veins.  She  was  half  pleased  and  half  terrified.  She 
feared  him,  but  she  feared  herself  more. 

"  What,  Diana !  would  you  refuse  me  ?  "  asked  he, 
after  a  moment's  pause.  "  Do  you  refuse  me,  when  I 
implore  you  to  be  my  wife,  and  to  share  my  name  with 
me?    Will  you  not  be  the  Duchess  of  Champdoce?" 

Diana  only  replied  with  a  glance;  but  if  her  eyes 
spoke  plainly,  that  look  said  "  Yes." 

"  Why,  then,"  returned  Norbert,  "  should  we  alarm 
ourselves  with  empty  phantoms  ?  Do  you  not  trust  me  ? 
My  father  may  certainly  oppose  my  plans,  but  before 
long  I  shall  escape  from  his  tyrannical  sway,  for  I  shall 
be  of  age." 

"  Ah,  Norbert,"  returned  she  sadly,  "  you  are  feed- 
ing upon  vain  hopes.  You  must  be  twenty-five  years  of 
age  before  you  can  marry  and  give  the  shelter  of  your 
name  to  the  woman  whom  you  have  chosen  for  your 
wife." 

This  was  exactly  the  explanation  for  which  Daumon 
had  been  waiting. 

"  Good  again,  my  young  lady,"  cried  he.  "  And  so 
this  is  why  she  came  here.  There  is  some  credit  in 
giving  a  lesson  to  so  apt  a  pupil." 


THE   COUNT    DE   PUYMANDOUR        59 

"  It  is  impossible,"  cried  Norbert,  violently  agitated ; 
"  such  an  iniquitous  thing  cannot  be." 

"  You  are  mistaken,"  answered  Diana  calmly.  "  Un- 
fortunately I  am  telling  you  exactly  how  matters  stand. 
The  law  clearly  fixes  the  age  at  twenty-five.  During  all 
this  time  will  you  remember  that  a  broken-hearted 
girl " 

"  Why  talk  to  me  of  law?  When  I  am  of  age,  I  shall 
have  plenty  of  money,"  broke  in  Norbert ;  "  and  do  you 
think  that  I  will  tamely  submit  to  my  father's  oppres- 
sion?   No,  I  will  wrest  his  consent  from  him." 

During  this  conversation  the  Counsellor  was  care- 
fully removing  the  dust  from  the  knees  of  his  trousers. 

"  I  will  pop  in  suddenly,"  thought  he,  "  and  catch  a 
word  or  two  which  will  do  away  with  the  necessity  of 
all  lengthy  explanations." 

He  suited  the  action  to  the  word,  and  appeared  sud- 
denly before  the  lovers.  He  was  not  at  all  discon- 
certed at  the  effect  his  entrance  produced  upon  them, 
and  remarked  placidly,  *'  I  could  not  find  the  sheriff's 
letter,  but  I  assure  you  that  Widow  Rouleau's  matter 
shall  be  speedily  and  satisfactorily  arranged." 

Diana  and  Norbert  exchanged  glances  of  annoyance 
at  finding  their  secret  at  the  mercy  of  such  a  man.  This 
evident  distrust  appeared  to  wound  Daumon  deeply. 

"  You  have  a  perfect  right,"  remarked  he  dejectedly, 
"  to  say,  '  Mind  your  own  business ; '  but  the  fact  is, 
that  I  hate  all  kinds  of  injustice  so  much  that  I  always 
take  the  side  of  the  weakest,  and  so,  when  I  come  in 
and  find  you  deploring  your  troubles,  I  say  to  myself, 
*  Doubtless  here  are  two  young  people  made  for  each 
other.'  " 

"  You  forget  yourself,"  broke  in  Diana  haughtily. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,"  stammered  Daumon.    "  I  am 


6o  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

but  a  poor  peasant,  and  sometimes  I  speak  out  too 
plainly.  I  meant  no  harm,  and  I  only  hope  that  you 
will  forgive  me.'* 

Daumon  looked  at  Diana;  and  as  she  made  no  re- 
ply, he  went  on :  "  Well,"  says  I  to  myself,  "  here  are 
two  young  folks  that  have  fallen  in  love,  and  have 
every  right  to  do  so,  and  yet  they  are  kept  apart  by 
unreasonable  and  cruel-minded  parents.  They  are 
young  and  know  nothing  of  the  law,  and  without  help 
they  would  most  certainly  get  into  a  muddle.  Now, 
suppose  I  take  their  matter  in  hand,  knowing  the  law 
thoroughly  as  I  do,  and  being  up  to  its  weak  as  well 
as  its  strong  points." 

He  spoke  on  in  this  strain  for  some  minutes,  and 
did  not  notice  that  they  had  withdrawn  a  little  apart, 
and  were  whispering  to  each  other. 

"  Why  should  we  not  trust  him  ?  "  asked  Norbert. 
"  He  has  plenty  of  experience." 

"  He  would  betray  us ;  he  would  do  anything  for 
money." 

"  That  is  all  the  better  for  us  then ;  for  if  we  prom- 
ise him  a  handsome  sum,  he  will  not  say  a  word  of 
what  has  passed  to-day." 

"  Do  as  you  think  best,  Norbert." 

Having  thus  gained  Diana's  assent,  the  young  man 
turned  to  Daumon.  "  I  put  every  faith  in  you,  and 
so  does  iMademoiselle  de  Laurebourg.  You  know  our 
exact  situation.    What  do  you  advise  ?  " 

"  Wait  and  hope,"  answered  the  Counsellor.  "  The 
slightest  step  taken  before  you  are  of  age  will  be  fatal 
to  your  prospects,  but  the  day  you  are  twenty-one  I 
will  undertake  to  show  you  several  methods  of  bring- 
ing the  Duke  on  his  knees." 

Nothing  could  make  this  speech  more  explicit;  but 


THE   COUNT   DE   PUYMANDOUR        6i 

he  was  so  cheerful  and  confident,  that  when  Diana  left 
the  office,  she  felt  a  fountain  of  fresh  hope  well  up  in 
her  heart. 

This  was  nearly  their  last  interview  that  year,  for 
the  winter  came  on  rapidly  and  with  increased  se- 
verity, so  that  it  was  impossible  for  the  lovers  to  meet 
out  of  doors,  and  the  fear  of  spying  eyes  prevented 
them  from  taking  advantage  of  Daumon's  hospitality. 
Each  day,  however,  the  widow's  daughter,  Frangoise, 
carried  a  letter  to  Laurebourg,  and  brought  back  a  re- 
ply to  Champdoce.  The  inhabitants  of  the  various 
country  houses  had  fled  to  more  genial  climates,  and 
only  the  Marquis  de  Laurebourg,  who  was  an  inveter- 
ate sportsman,  still  lingered ;  but  at  the  first  heavy  fall 
of  snow  he  too  determined  to  take  refuge  in  the  mag- 
nificent house  that  he  owned  in  the  town  of  Poitiers. 
Norbert  had  foreseen  this,  and  had  taken  his  measures 
accordingly.  Two  or  three  times  in  the  week  he 
mounted  his  horse  and  rode  to  the  town.  After  chang- 
ing his  dress,  he  made  haste  to  a  certain  garden  wall 
in  which  there  was  a  small  door.  At  an  agreed  hour 
this  door  would  gently  open,  and  as  Norbert  slipped 
through  he  would  find  Diana  ready  to  welcome  him, 
looking  more  bewitching  than  ever.  This  great  pas- 
sion, which  now  enthralled  his  whole  life,  and  the  cer- 
tainty that  his  love  was  returned,  had  done  away  with 
a  great  deal  of  his  bashfulness  and  timidity.  He  had 
resumed  his  acquaintanceship  with  Montlouis,  and 
had  often  been  with  him  to  the  Cafe  Castille.  Mont- 
louis was  only  for  a  short  time  at  Poitiers,  for  as  soon 
as  spring  began  he  was  to  join  the  young  Count  de 
Mussidan,  who  had  promised  to  find  some  employment 
for  him.  The  approaching  departure  was  not  at  all  to 
Montlouis'  taste,  as  he  was  madly  in  love  with  a  young 


62  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

girl  who  resided  in  the  town.  He  told  all  to  Norbert ; 
and  as  confidence  begets  confidence,  he  more  than 
once  accompanied  the  young  Marquis  to  the  door  in 
the  garden  wall  of  the  Count  de  Laurebourg's  town 
house. 

April  came  at  last.  The  gentry  returned  to  their 
country  houses,  and  in  time  the  happy  day  arrived 
when  Diana  de  Laurebourg  was  to  return  to  her  fath- 
er's country  mansion.  The  lovers  had  now  every  op- 
portunity to  meet,  and  would  exhort  each  other  to  have' 
patience,  and  a  week  after  Diana's  return  they  spent  a 
long  day  together  in  the  woods.  After  this  delicious 
day,  Norbert,  happy  and  light-hearted,  returned  to  his 
father's  house. 

"  Marquis,"  said  the  Duke,  plunging  at  once  into  the 
topic  nearest  his  heart,  "  I  have  found  a  wife  for  you, 
and  in  two  months  you  will  marry  her." 


CHAPTER   VII. 


AN    UNLUCKY    BLOW. 


The  falling  of  a  thunderbolt  at  his  feet  would  have 
startled  Norbert  less  than  these  words  did.  The  Duke 
took,  or  affected  to  take,  no  notice  of  his  son's  extreme 
agitation,  and  in  a  careless  manner  he  continued, — 

"  I  suppose,  my  son,  that  it  is  hardly  necessary  for 
me  to  tell  you  the  young  lady's  name.  Mademoiselle 
Marie  de  Puymandour  cannot  fail  to  please  you.  She 
is  excessively  pretty,  tall,  dark,  and  with  a  fine  figure. 
You  saw  her  at  Mass  one  day.  What  do  you  think  of 
her?" 


AN   UNLUCKY   BLOW  65 

"  Think !  "  stammered  Norbert.     "  Really  I " 


"  Pshaw,"  replied  the  old  gentleman ;  "  I  thought 
that  you  had  begun  to  use  your  eyes.  And  look  here, 
Marquis,  you  must  adopt  a  different  style  of  dress. 
You  can  go  over  with  me  to  Poitiers  to-morrow,  and 
one  of  the  tailors  there  will  make  you  some  clothes 
suitable  to  your  rank,  for  I  don't  suppose  that  you 
wish  to  alarm  your  future  wife  by  the  uncouthness  of 
your  appearance." 

"But,  father " 

"  Wait  a  moment,  if  you  please.  I  shall  have  a  suite 
of  apartments  reserved  for  you  and  your  bride,  and 
you  can  pass  your  honeymoon  here.  Take  care  you  do 
not  prolong  it  for  too  lengthened  a  period ;  and  when  it 
is  all  over,  we  can  break  the  young  woman  into  all  our 
ways." 

"  But,"  interrupted  Norbert  hastily,  "  suppose  I  do 
not  fancy  this  young  lady  ?  " 

"Well,  what  then?" 

"  Suppose  I  should  beg  you  to  save  me  from  a  mar- 
riage which  will  render  me  most  unhappy  ?  " 

The  Duke  shrugged  his  shoulders.  "  Why  this  is 
mere  childishness,"  said  he.  "  The  marriage  is  a  most 
suitable  one,  and  it  is  my  desire  that  it  should  take 
place." 

"  But,  father,"  again  commenced  Norbert. 

"  What !  Are  you  opposing  my  will  ?  "  asked  his 
father  angrily.     "  Pray,  do  you  hesitate  ?  " 

"  No,"  answered  his  son  coldly,  "  I  do  not  hesitate." 

"  Very  good,  then.  A  man  of  no  position  can  con- 
sult the  dictates  of  his  heart  when  he  takes  a  wife, 
but  with  a  nobleman  of  rank  and  station  it  is  certainly 
a  different  matter,  for  with  the  latter,  marriage  should 
be  looked  upon  as  a  mere  business  transaction.    I  have 


64  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

made  excellent  arrangements.  Let  me  repeat  to  you 
the  conditions.  Tlie  Count  will  give  two-thirds  of  his 
fortune,  which  is  estimated  at  five  millions — just  think 
of  that! — and  when  we  get  that,  we  shall  be  able  to 
screw  and  save  with  better  heart.  Think  of  the  resto- 
ration of  our  house,  and  the  colossal  fortune  that  our 
descendants  will  one  day  inherit,  and  realize  all  the 
beauties  of  a  life  of  self-denial." 

While  the  Duke  was  uttering  this  string  of  inco- 
herent sentences,  he  was  pacing  up  and  down  the 
room,  and  now  he  halted  immediately  in  front  of  his 
son.  "You  understand,"  said  he;  "to-morrow  you 
will  go  to  Poitiers,  and  on  Sunday  we  will  dine  at  the 
house  of  your  future  father-in-law." 

In  this  fearful  crisis  Norbert  did  not  know  what  to 
say  or  how  to  act. 

"  Father,"  he  once  more  commenced,  "  I  have  no 
wish  to  go  to  Poitiers  to-morrow." 

"  What  are  you  saying  ?  What  in  heaven's  name 
do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  I  mean  that  as  I  shall  never  love  Mademoiselle  de 
Puymandour,  she  will  never  be  my  wife." 

The  Duke  had  never  foreseen  the  chance  of  rebel- 
lion on  the  part  of  his  son,  and  he  could  not  bring  his 
mind  to  receive  such  an  unlooked-for  event. 

"  You  are  mad,"  said  he  at  last,  "  and  do  not  know 
what  you  are  saying." 

"  I  know  very  well." 

"  Think  of  what  you  are  doing." 

"I  have  reflected." 

The  Duke  was  making  a  violent  effort  to  compose 
his  ordinarily  violent  temper. 

"  Do  you  imagine,"  answered  he  disdainfully,  "  that 
I  shall  be  satisfied  with  an  answer  of  this  kind?     I 


AN   UNLUCKY   BLOW  65 

hope  that  you  will  submit  to  my  wishes,  for  I  think 
that,  as  the  head  of  the  family,  I  have  conceived  a 
splendid  plan  for  its  future  aggrandizement;  and  do 
you  think  that,  for  the  mere  whim  of  a  boy,  I  will  be 
turned  aside  from  my  fixed  determination?" 

"  No,  father,"  answered  Norbert,  "  it  is  no  boyish 
whim  that  makes  me  oppose  your  wishes.  Tell  me, 
have  I  not  ever  been  a  dutiful  son  to  you?  Have  I 
ever  refused  to  do  what  I  was  ordered?  No;  I  have 
obeyed  you  implicitly.  I  am  the  son  of  the  wealthiest 
man  in  Poitiers,  and  I  have  lived  like  a  laborer's  child. 
Whatever  your  mandates  were,  I  have  never  com- 
plained or  murmured  at  them." 

"  Well,  and  now  I  order  you  to  marry  Mademoiselle 
de  Puymandour." 

"  Anything  but  that ;  I  do  not  love  her,  and  I  shall 
never  do  so.  Do  you  wish  my  whole  life  to  be 
blighted  ?    I  entreat  you  to  spare  me  this  sacrifice !  " 

"  My  orders  are  given,  and  you  must  comply  with 
them." 

"  No,"  answered  Norbert  quietly,  "  I  will  not  comply 
with  them." 

A  purple  flush  passed  across  the  Duke's  face,  then 
it  faded  away,  leaving  every  feature  of  a  livid  white- 
ness. 

"  Great  heavens ! "  said  he  in  a  voice  before  which 
Norbert,  at  one  time,  would  have  quailed.  "  Whence 
comes  the  audacity  that  makes  you  venture  to  dispute 
my  orders?" 

'*  From  the  feeling  that  I  am  acting  rightly." 

"  How  long  is  it  that  it  has  been  right  for  children 
to  disobey  their  parents'  commands  ?  " 

"  Ever  since  parents  began  to  issue  unjust  com- 
mands." 


66  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

This  speech  put  the  finishing  stroke  to  the  Duke's 
rage.  He  made  a  step  across  the  room,  towards  his 
son,  raising  the  stick  that  he  usually  carried  high  in 
the  air.  For  a  moment  he  stood  thus,  and  then  cast- 
ing it  aside,  he  exclaimed, — 

"  No,  I  cannot  strike  a  Champdoce." 

Perhaps  it  was  Norbert's  intrepid  attitude  that  re- 
strained the  Duke's  frenzy,  for  he  had  not  moved  a 
muscle,  but  stood  still,  with  his  arms  folded,  and  his 
head  thrown  haughtily  back. 

"  No,  this  is  an  act  of  disobedience  that  I  will  not 
put  up  with,"  exclaimed  the  old  man  in  a  voice  of 
thunder,  and,  springing  upon  his  son,  he  grasped  him 
by  the  collar  and  dragged  him  up  to  a  room  on  the 
second  floor,  and  thrust  him  violently  through  the 
doorway. 

"  You  have  twenty-four  hours  in  which  to  reflect 
whether  you  will  be  willing  to  accept  the  wife  that  I 
have  chosen  for  you,"  said  he. 

"  I  have  already  decided  on  that  point,"  answered 
Norbert  quietly. 

The  Duke  made  no  reply,  but  slammed  the  door, 
which  was  of  massive  oak,  and  secured  by  a  lock  of 
enormous  proportions. 

Norbert  gazed  round;  the  only  other  exit  from 
the  room  was  by  means  of  a  window  some  forty  feet 
from  the  ground.  The  young  man,  however,  imagined 
that  some  one  would  surely  come  to  make  up  his  bed 
for  the  night ;  that  would  give  him  two  sheets ;  these 
he  could  knot  together  and  thus  secure  a  means  of 
escape.  He  might  not  be  able  to  see  Diana  at  once, 
but  he  could  easily  send  her  a  message  by  Daumon, 
warning  her  of  what  had  taken  place.  Having 
arranged  his  plans,  he  threw  himself  into  an  arm- 


AN    UNLUCKY    BLOW  67 

chair  with  a  more  easy  mind  than  he  had  experi- 
enced for  many  months  past.  The  decisive  step  had 
been  taken,  and  the  relations  between  his  father  and 
himself  clearly  defined,  and  thus  he  naturally  consid- 
ered great  progress  had  been  made,  and  the  task  be- 
fore him  seemed  as  nothing  to  what  he  had  already 
performed. 

"  My  father,"  thought  he,  "  must  be  half  mad  with 
passion." 

And  Norbert  was  not  wrong  in  his  opinion.  When 
the  Duke,  as  usual,  took  his  place  at  the  table,  at 
which  the  farm  laborers  ate  their  meals,  not  one  of 
them  had  the  courage  to  make  a  single  observation. 
Every  one  knew  that  a  serious  altercation  had  taken 
place  between  father  and  son,  and  each  one  was 
devoured  by  the  pangs  of  ungratified  curiosity. 

As  soon  as  the  meal  was  concluded,  the  Duke  called 
an  old  and  trustworthy  servant,  who  had  been  in  his 
employment  for  over  thirty  years. 

"  Jean,"  said  he,  "  your  3'oung  master  is  locked  up 
in  the  yellow  room.  Here  is  the  key.  Take  hira 
something  to  eat." 

"  Very  good,  your  Grace." 

"  Wait  a  little.  You  will  spend  the  night  in  his 
room  and  keep  a  strict  watch  upon  him.  He  may  de- 
sign to  make  his  escape.  If  he  attempts  it,  restrain 
him,  if  necessary,  by  physical  force.  Should  he  prove 
too  strong  for  you,  call  to  me;  I  shall  be  near,  and 
will  come  to  your  aid." 

This  unexpected  precaution  upon  the  Duke's  part 
upset  all  Norbert's  plans  of  escape.  He  endeavored 
to  persuade  Jean  to  allow  him  to  go  out  for  a  couple 
of  hours,  giving  his  word  of  honor  that  he  would 
return  at  the  expiration  of  that  time.     Prayers  and 


68  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

menaces,  however,  had  no  effect.  Had  the  young 
man  gazed  from  the  window,  he  would  have  seen  his 
father  striding  moodily  up  and  down  the  courtyard, 
with  the  thought  gnawing  at  his  heart  that  perhaps 
after  all  these  many  years  of  waiting  his  plans  might 
yet  be  frustrated. 

•"  There  is  a  woman  at  the  bottom  of  all  this,"  said 
he  to  himself.  "  It  is  only  woman's  wiles  that  in  this 
brief  space  of  time  would  effect  so  complete  a  change 
in  a  young  man's  disposition.  Besides,  he  would  not 
have  so  obstinately  declined  to  listen  to  the  proposal 
I  made  him  had  not  his  affections  been  engaged  else- 
where. Who  can  she  be?  and  by  what  means  shall  I 
find  her  out?" 

It  would  be  absurd  to  question  Norbert,  and  the 
Duke  was  excessively  unwilling  to  institute  any  regu- 
lar inquiry  into  the  matter.  He  passed  the  whole 
night  in  gloomy  indecision,  but  towards  morning  an 
inspiration  came  to  him  which  he  looked  upon  as  a 
special  interposition  of  Providence. 

"  Bruno,"  he  exclaimed  with  a  mighty  oath.  "  The 
dog  will  show  me  the  place  that  his  master  frequents 
and  perhaps  lead  me  to  the  very  woman  who  has 
bewitched  him." 

This  brilliant  idea  soothed  him  a  great  deal,  and  at 
one  o'clock  he  took  his  seat  as  usual  at  the  head  of 
the  table,  and  ordered  food  to  be  taken  up  to  Norbert, 
but  that  none  of  the  measures  for  his  safe  custody 
were  to  be  relaxed. 

When  he  thought  the  moment  was  a  favorable  one, 
he  whistled  to  Bruno,  and,  though  the  dog  rarely  fol- 
lowed him,  yet  in  the  absence  of  his  master,  he  conde- 
scended to  accompany  the  Duke  down  the  avenue  to 
the  front  gates.    Three  roads  branched  off  from  here, 


AN   UNLUCKY   BLOW  69 

but  the  dog  did  not  hesitate  for  a  moment,  and  took 
the  one  to  the  left,  like  an  animal  who  knew  his  desti- 
nation perfectly  well.  Bruno  went  ahead  for  nearly 
half  an  hour,  until  he  reached  the  exact  spot  where 
Diana  had  met  with  her  accident.  He  made  a  cast 
round,  but  finding-  nothing,  sat  down,  clearly  saying, — 

"  Let  us  wait." 

"  This,  then,"  muttered  the  Duke,  "  is  the  place 
where  the  lovers  have  been  in  the  habit  of  meeting 
each  other." 

The  place  was  a  very  lonely  one,  and,  standing  on 
rising  ground,  commanded  a  view  of  the  country  for 
a  long  way  round. 

The  Duke  noticed  this,  and  took  up  a  position  where 
the  trunk  of  a  giant  oak  almost  concealed  him  from 
observation.  He  was  delighted  at  his  sagacity,  and 
was  almost  in  a  good  humor ;  for  now  that  he  had 
reflected,  the  danger  did  not  seem  by  any  means  so 
great,  for  to  whom  could  Norbert  have  lost  his  heart? 
To  some  little  peasant  girl,  perhaps,  who,  thinking 
that  the  lad  was  an  easy  dupe,  had  tried  to  induce 
him  to  marry  her.  As  these  thoughts  passed  through 
the  Duke's  brain,  Bruno  gave  a  joyous  bark. 

"  Here  she  is,"  muttered  he,  as  he  emerged  from 
his  hiding  place,  and  at  that  moment  Diana  de  Laure- 
bourg  made  her  appearance;  but  as  soon  as  she  saw 
the  Duke  she  uttered  a  faint  cry  of  alarm.  She  was 
inclined  to  turn  and  fly,  but  her  strength  failed  her, 
and,  extending  her  hands,  she  grasped  the  boughs  of 
a  slender  birch  tree  that  grew  close  by,  to  prevent 
herself  from  falling.  The  Duke  was  quite  as  much 
astonished  as  the  young  lady.  He  had  expected  to 
see  a  peasant  girl,  and  here  was  the  daughter  of  the 
Marquis  de  Laurebourg.     But  anger  soon  succeeded 


70  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

to  surprise ;  for  though  he  might  have  had  nothing  to 
fear  from  the  peasant,  the  daughter  of  the  Marquis  de 
Laurebourg  was  an  utterly  different  antagonist.  He 
could  not  rely  upon  aid  from  her  family,  as,  for  all 
he  knew,  they  might  be  aiding  and  abetting  her. 

"  Well,  my  child,"  began  he,  "  you  do  not  seem  very 
glad  to  see  me." 

"  Your  Grace." 

"  Yes,  when  you  come  out  to  meet  the  son,  it  is 
annoying  to  meet  the  father;  but  do  not  blame  poor 
Norbert,  for  I  assure  you  he  is  not  in  fault." 

Though  Mademoiselle  de  Laurebourg  had  been  star- 
tled at  first,  she  was  possessed  of  too  strong  a  will  to 
give  in,  and  soon  recovered  her  self-possession. 

She  never  thought  to  screen  herself  by  a  denial 
of  her  reasons  for  being  on  the  spot,  for  such  a  course 
she  would  have  looked  on  as  an  act  of  treacherous 
cowardice. 

"  You  are  quite  right,"  answered  she.  "  I  came 
here  to  meet  your  son,  and  therefore  you  will  pardon 
me  if  I  take  my  leave  of  you." 

With  a  deep  courtesy  she  was  about  to  move 
away,  when  the  Duke  laid  a  restraining  grip  upon 
her  arm. 

"  Permit  me,  my  child,"  said  he,  endeavoring  to  put 
on  a  kind  and  paternal  tone, — "  let  me  say  a  few 
words  to  you.  Do  you  know  why  Norbert  did  not 
come  to  meet  you  ?  " 

"  He  has  doubtless  some  very  good  reason." 

"  My  son  is  locked  up  in  a  room,  and  my  servants 
have  my  orders  to  prevent  his  making  his  escape 
by  force,  if  necessary." 

"  Poor  fellow !  He  deserves  the  deepest  commisera- 
tion." 


AN   UNLUCKY   BLOW  71 

The  Duke  was  much  surprised  at  this  piece  of  im- 
pertinence, as  he  considered  it. 

"  I  will  tell  you,"  returned  he  in  tones  of  rising 
anger,  "  how  it  comes  that  I  treat  my  son,  the  heir 
to  my  rank  and  fortune,  in  this  manner." 

He  looked  savagely  angry  as  he  spoke,  but  Diana 
answered  negligently,  "  Pray  go  on ;  you  quite  in- 
terest me." 

"  Well  then,  listen  to  me.  I  have  chosen  a  wife 
for  Norbert ;  she  is  as  young  as  you  are — beautiful, 
clever,  and  wealthy." 

"  And  of  noble  birth,  of  course." 

The  sarcasm  conveyed  in  this  reply  roused  the 
Duke  to  fury. 

"  Fifteen  hundred  thousand  francs  as  a  marriage 
portion  will  outweigh  a  coat  of  arms,  even  though  it 
should  be  a  tower  argent  on  a  field  azure."  The 
Duke  paused  as  he  made  this  allusion  to  the  Laure- 
bourg  arms,  and  then  continued,  "  In  addition  to 
this,  she  has  great  expectations ;  and  yet  my  son  is 
mad  enough  to  refuse  the  hand  of  this  wealthy 
heiress." 

"  If  you  think  that  this  marriage  will  cause  your 
son's  happiness,  you  are  quite  right  in  acting  as  you 
have  done." 

"  Happiness !  What  has  that  to  do  with  the  matter, 
as  long  as  it  adds  to  the  aggrandizement  of  our  house 
and  name?  J  have  made  up  my  mind  that  Norbert 
shall  marry  this  girl ;  I  have  sworn  it,  and  I  never 
break  my  oath.     I  told  him  this  myself." 

Diana  suffered  acutely,  but  her  pride  supported  her, 
whilst  her  confidence  in  Norbert  was  so  great  that 
she  had  the  boldness  to  inquire,  "  And  what  did  he 
say  to  that?" 


72  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

"  Norbert  will  become  a  dutiful  son  once  more 
when  he  is  removed  from  the  malignant  influence 
which  has  been  so  injurious  to  him,"  returned  the 
Duke  fiercely. 

"  Indeed." 

"  He  will  obey  me,  when  I  show  him  that  though 
he  may  not  value  his  name  and  position,  there  are 
others  who  do  so;  and  that  many  a  woman  would 
fight  a  brave  battle  for  the  honor  of  being  the  Duch- 
ess of  Champdoce.  Young  lady,  my  son  is  a  mere 
boy;  but  I  have  known  the  world,  and  when  I  prove 
to  the  poor  foul  that  it  was  only  grasping  ambition 
which  assumed  the  garb  of  love,  he  will  renounce  his 
folly  and  resume  his  allegiance  to  me.  I  will  tell 
him  what  I  think  of  the  poverty-stricken  adventur- 
esses of  high  birth,  whose  only  weapons  are  their 
youth  and  beauty,  and  with  which  they  think  that 
they  can  win  a  wealthy  husband  in  the  battle  of  life." 

"  Continue,  sir,"  broke  in  Diana  haughtily.  "  In- 
sult a  defenceless  girl  with  her  poverty!  It  is  a 
noble  act,  and  one  worthy  of  a  high-born  gentleman 
like  yourself !  " 

"  I  believed,"  said  the  Duke,  "  that  I  was  address- 
ing the  woman  whose  advice  had  led  my  son  to  break 
into  open  rebellion  against  my  authority.  Am  I  right 
or  wrong?  You  can  prove  me  to  be  mistaken  by 
urging  upon   Norbert  the  necessity  for  submission." 

She  made  no  reply,  but  bent  her  head  upon  her 
bosom. 

"You  see,"  continued  the  Duke,  "that  I  am  cor- 
rect, and  that  if  you  continue  to  act  as  you  have  done, 
I  shall  be  justified  in  retaliating  in  any  manner  that 
I  may  deem  fit.  You  have  now  been  warned.  Carry 
on  this  intrigue  at  your  peril." 


AN   UNLUCKY   BLOW  73 

He  placed  such  an  insulting  emphasis  upon  the 
word  "  intrigue  "  that  Diana's  anger  rose  to  boiling 
point.  At  that  instant,  for  the  sake  of  vengeance, 
she  would  have  risked  her  honor,  her  ambition,  her 
very  life  itself. 

Forgetting  all  prudence,  she  cast  aside  her  mask  of 
affected  indifference,  and,  with  her  eyes  flashing 
angry  gleams  of  fire,  and  her  cheeks  burning,  she 
said, — 

"  Listen  to  me.  I,  too,  have  sworn  an  oath,  and  it 
is  that  Norbert  shall  be  my  husband;  and  I  tell  you 
that  he  shall  be  so!  Shut  him  up  in  prison,  subject 
him  to  every  indignity  at  the  hands  of  your  menials, 
but  you  will  never  break  his  spirit,  or  make  him  go 
back  from  his  plighted  word.  If  I  bid  him,  he  will 
resist  your  will  even  unto  the  bitter  end.  He  and  I 
will  never  yield.  Beheve  me  when  I  tell  you,  .that 
before  you  attack  a  young  girl's  honor,  you  had  bet- 
ter pause ;  for  one  day  she  will  be  a  member  of  your 
family.     Farewell." 

Before  the  Duke  could  recover  his  senses,  Diana 
was  far  down  the  path  on  her  way  homewards ;  and 
then  he  burst  into  a  wild  storm  of  menaces,  oaths,  and 
insults.  He  fancied  that  he  was  alone,  but  he  was 
mistaken;  for  the  whole  of  that  strange  scene  had 
a  hidden  witness,  and  that  witness  was  Daumon.  He 
had  heard  of  the  treatment  of  the  young  Marquis  from 
one  of  the  servants  at  the  Chateau,  and  his  first 
thought  had  been  to  acquaint  Diana  with  it.  L^n- 
fortunately  he  saw  no  means  of  doing  this.  He 
dared  not  go  to  Laurebourg,  and  he  would  have  died 
sooner  than  put  pen  to  paper.  He  was  in  a  position 
of  the  deepest  embarrassment  when  the  idea  struck 
him  of  goings  to  the  lovers'  trysting  place.    The  little 


74  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

cry  that  Diana  had  uttered  upon  perceiving  the  Duke 
had  put  him  upon  his  guard.  Bruno  had  found  him 
out;  but,  as  he  knew  him,  merely  fawned  upon  him. 
He  was  delighted  at  the  fury  of  the  Duke,  whom 
he  hated  with  cold  and  steady  malignity ;  but  the  cour- 
age of  Diana  filled  him  with  admiration.  Her  sub- 
lime audacity  won  his  warmest  praises,  and  he  longed 
for  her  as  an  ally  to  aid  him  in  his  scheme  of  re- 
venge. He  knew  that  the  girl  would  find  herself  in 
a  terribly  embarrassing  position,  and  thus  she  would 
be  sure  to  call  upon  him  for  advice  before  returning 
home. 

"  Now,"  thought  he,  "  if  I  wish  to  profit  by  her 
anger,  I  ought  to  strike  while  the  iron  is  hot;  and  to 
do  so,  I  should  be  at  home  to  meet  her." 

Without  a  moment's  delay,  he  dashed  through  the 
woods,  striving  to  get  home  without  the  young  girl's 
perceiving  him.  His  movements  in  the  underwood 
caught  the  Duke's  eye. 

"  Who  is  there  ? "  exclaimed  he,  moving  towards 
the  spot  from  whence  the  rustling  came.  There  was 
no  reply.  Surely  he  had  not  been  mistaken.  Calling 
to  Bruno,  he  strove  to  put  him  on  the  scent,  but  the 
dog  showed  no  signs  of  eagerness.  He  sniffed  about 
for  a  time,  and  seemed  to  linger  near  one  special  spot. 
The  Duke  moved  towards  it,  and  distinctly  saw  the 
impression  of  two  knees  upon  the  grass. 

"  Some  one  has  been  eavesdropping,"  muttered  he, 
much  enraged  at  his  discovery.  "Who  can  it  be? 
Has  Nbrbert  escaped  from  his  prison  ?  " 

As  he  returned  through  the  courtyard,  he  called 
one  of  the  grooms  to  him. 

"  Where  is  my  son  ?  "  asked  he. 

"  Upstairs,  your  Grace,"  was  the  answer. 


AN   UNLUCKY   BLOW  75 

The  Duke  breathed  more  freely.  Norbert  was  still 
in  security,  and  therefore  it  could  not  have  been  the 
person  who  had  been  listening. 

"  But,"  added  the  lad,  "  the  young  master  is  half 
frantic." 

"What  do  you  mean?" 

"  Well,  he  declared  that  he  would  not  remain  in 
his  room  an  instant  longer;  so  old  Jean  called  for 
help.  He  is  awfully  strong,  and  it  took  six  of  us 
to  hold  him.  He  said  that  if  we  would  let  him  go, 
he  would  return  in  two  hours,  and  that  his  honor 
and  life  were  involved." 

The  Duke  listened  with  a  sarcastic  smile.  He 
cared  nothing  about  the  frantic  struggles  of  his  son, 
for  his  heart  had  grown  cold  and  hard  from  the  pres- 
ence of  the  fixed  idea  which  had  actuated  his  conduct 
for  so  many  years,  and  it  was  with  the  solemn  face 
of  a  man  who  was  fulfilling  a  sacred  duty  that  he 
ascended  to  the  room  in  which  his  son  was  impris- 
oned. Jean  threw  open  the  door,  and  the  Duke  paused 
for  a  moment  on  the  threshold.  The  furniture  had 
been  overturned,  some  of  it  broken,  and  there  were 
evident  signs  of  a  furious  struggle  having  taken  place. 

A  powerful  laborer  stood  near  the  window,  and 
Norbert  was  lying  on  the  bed,  with  his  face  turned 
to  the  wall. 

"  Leave  us,"  said  the  Duke,  and  the  man  withdrew 
at  once. 

"  Get  up,  Norbert,"  he  added;  "  I  wish  to  speak  to 
you." 

His  son  obeyed  him.  Any  one  but  the  Duke  would 
have  been  alarmed  by  the  expression  of  the  young 
man's  face. 

"  What  is  the  meaning  of  all  this  ?  "  asked  the  old 


76  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

nobleman  in  his  most  severe  voice.  "  Are  not  my 
orders  sufficient  to  insure  obedience?  I  hear  that 
absolute  force  has  had  to  be  used  towards  you  during 
my  absence.  Tell  me,  my  son,  what  plans  you  have 
devised  during  these  hours  of  solitude,  and  v/hat  hopes 
you  still  venture  to  cherish." 

"  I  intend  to  be  free,  and  I  will  be  so." 

The  Duke  aflFected  not  to  hear  the  reply,  uttered 
as  it  was  in  a  tone  of  decision. 

"  It  was  very  easy  for  me  to  discover,  from  your 
obstinacy,  that  some  woman  had  endeavored  to  entrap 
30U,  and  by  her  insidious  counsels  inducing  you  to 
disobey  your  best  friend." 

He  paused,  but  there  was  no  reply. 

"  This  woman — this  dangerous  woman — I  have  been 
in  search  of,  and  as  you  can  conceive,  I  easily  found 
her.  I  went  to  the  Forest  of  Bevron,  and  there  I 
need  not  tell  you  I  found  Mademoiselle  de  Laure- 
bourg." 

"  Did  you  speak  to  her  ?  " 

"  I  did  so,  certainly.  I  told  her  my  opinion  of  those 
manoeuvring  women  who  fascinate  the  dupes  they  in- 
tend to  take  advantage  of " 

"  Father !  " 

"  Can  it  be  possible  that  you,  simple  boy  even  as  yotf 
are,  could  have  been  deceived  by  the  pretended  love 
of  this  wily  young  woman?  It  is  not  you.  Marquis, 
that  she  loves,  but  our  name  and  fortune;  but  /  know 
if  she  does  not  that  the  law  will  imprison  women  who 
contrive  to  entrap  young  men  who  are  under  age." 

Norbert  turned  deadly  pale. 

"  Did  you  really  say  that  to  her  ?  "  asked  he,  in  a 
low,  hoarse  voice,  utterly  unlike  his  own.  "  You  dare 
to  insult  the  woman  I  love,  when  you  knew  that  I  was 


THE   LITTLE   GLASS    BOTTLE  77 

far  away  and  unable  to  protect  her !     Take  care,  or 
I  shall  forget  that  you  are  my  father." 

"  He  actually  threatens  me,"  said  the  Duke,  "  my 
son  threatens  me ;  "  and,  raising  the  heavy  stick  he 
held  in  his  hand,  he  struck  Norbert  a  violent  blow. 
By  a  fortunate  movement  the  unhappy  boy  drew  back, 
and  so  avoided  the  full  force  of  the  stroke,  but  the 
end  of  the  stick  struck  him  across  the  temple,  inflicting 
a  long  though  not  a  serious  wound.  In  his  blind  rage 
Norbert  was  about  to  throw  himself  upon  his  father, 
when  his  eyes  caught  sight  of  the  open  door.  Liberty 
and  safety  lay  before  him,  and,  with  a  bound,  he  was 
on  the  stairs,  and  before  the  Duke  could  shout  for  aid 
from  the  window,  his  son  was  tearing  across  the  park 
with  all  the  appearance  and  gesture  of  a  madman. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


THE   LITTLE  GLASS   BOTTLE. 


In  order  to  avoid  being  seen  by  Mademoiselle  de 
Laurebourg,  Daumon  had  to  take  a  much  longer  route 
to  regain  his  home  than  the  one  that  Diana  had  fol- 
lowed. This,  however,  he  could  not  help.  As  soon  as 
he  arrived  at  his  home  he  ran  hastily  upstairs  and  took 
from  a  cleverly  concealed  hiding-place  in  the  wains- 
coting of  his  bedroom  a  small  bottle  of  dark  green 
glass,  which  he  hastily  slipped  into  his  pocket.  When 
he  had  once  more  descended  to  his  office,  he  again  took 
it  out  and  examined  it  carefully  to  see  that  it  had  in 
nc  way  been  tampered  with ;  then,  with  a  hard,  cruel 
smile,  he  placed  it  upon  his  desk  among  his  ledgers 


78  THE   CHAAIPDOCE   MYSTERY 

and  account  books.  Diana  de  Laurebourg  might  pay 
him  a  visit  as  soon  as  she  Hked,  for  he  was  quite  pre- 
pared for  her,  for  he  had  sHpped  on  his  dressing-gown 
and  placed  his  velvet  skull  cap  upon  his  head,  as  if 
he  had  not  quitted  the  house  that  day. 

"  Why  on  earth  does  she  not  come  ?  "  muttered  he. 

He  began  to  be  uneasy.  He  went  to  the  window 
and  glanced  eagerly  down  the  road ;  then  he  drew  out 
his  watch  and  examined  the  face  of  it,  when  all  at 
once  his  ears  detected  a  gentle  tapping  at  the  door  of 
the  office. 

"  Come  in,"  said  he. 

The  door  opened,  and  Diana  entered  slowly,  without 
uttering  a  word,  and  took  no  notice  of  the  servile  obse- 
quiousness of  the  Counsellor;  indeed,  she  hardly 
seemed  to  notice  his  presence,  and  with  a  deep  sigh 
she  threw  herself  into  a  chair. 

In  his  inmost  heart  Daumon  was  filled  with  the  ut- 
most delight;  he  now  understood  why  Diana  had 
taken  so  long  in  reaching  his  house ;  it  was  because  her 
interview  with  the  Duke  had  almost  overcome  her. 

She  soon,  however,  recovered  her  energy,  and  shook 
oflf  the  languor  that  seemed  to  cling  to  her  limbs,  and, 
turning  towards  her  host,  said  abruptly, — 

"  Counsellor,  I  have  come  to  you  for  advice,  which 
I  sorely  need.    About  an  hour  ago " 

With  a  gesture  of  sympathy  Daumon  interrupted 
her, — 

"  Alas  !  "  said  he  ;  "  spare  me  the  recital,  I  know  all." 

"  You  know " 

"  Yes,  I  know  that  M.  Norbert  is  a  prisoner  at  the 
Chateau.  Yes,  mademoiselle,  I  know  this,  and  I  know, 
too,  that  you  have  just  met  the  Duke  de  Champdoce  in 
the  Forest  of  Bevron.    I  know,  moreover,  all  that  you 


THE   LITTLE   GLASS    BOTTLE  79 

said  to  the  old  nobleman,  for  I  have  heard  every  word 
from  a  person  who  has  just  left." 

In  spite  of  her  strong-  nerves,  Diana  was  unable  to 
restrain  a  movement  of  dismay  and  terror. 

"  But  who  told  you  of  this  ? "  murmured  she. 

"  A  man  who  was  out  cutting  wood.  Ah !  my  dear 
young  lady,  the  forest  is  not  a  safe  place  to  tell  secrets 
in,  for  you  never  know  whether  watchful  eyes  and 
listening  ears  are  not  concealed  behind  every  tree. 
This  man,  and  I  am  afraid  some  of  his  companions, 
heard  every  word  that  was  spoken,  and  as  soon  as 
you  left  the  Duke  the  man  scampered  off  to  tell  the 
story.  I  made  him  promise  not  to  say  a  word,  but  he 
is  a  married  man  and  is  sure  to  tell  it  to  his  wife. 
Then  there  are  his  companions;  dear  me!  it  is  most 
annoying." 

"  Then  all  is  lost,  and  I  am  ruined,"  murmured  she. 

But  her  despair  did  not  last  long,  for  she  was  by 
no  means  the  woman  to  throw  down  her  arms  and 
sue  for  mercy.  She  grasped  the  arm  of  the  Coun- 
sellor. 

"  The  end  has  not  come  yet,  surely  ?  Speak !  what 
is  to  be  done?  You  must  have  some  plan.  I  am 
ready  for  anything,  now  that  I  have  nothing  to  lose. 
No  one  shall  ever  say  that  that  cowardly  villain,  the 
Duke  de  Champdoce,  insulted  me  with  impunity.  Tell 
me,  will  you  help  me  ?  " 

"  In  the  name  of  heaven !  "  cried  he,  "  do  not  speak 
so  loud.  You  do  not  know  the  adversary  that  you 
have  to  contend  with." 

"  Are  you  afraid  of  him  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  do  fear  him ;  and  what  is  more,  I  fear  him 
very  much.  He  is  a  determined  man,  and  will  gain 
his  object  at  any  cost  or  risk.    Do  you  know  that  he 


8o  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

did  his  best  to  crush  me  because  I  summoned  him  to 
court  on  behalf  of  one  of  my  cHents?  So  that  now, 
when  any  one  comes  to  me  and  wishes  to  proceed 
against  the  Duke,  I  am  glad  to  decline  to  take  up  the 
matter." 

"  And  so,"  returned  the  young  girl  in  a  tone  of  cold 
contempt,  "  after  leading  us  to  this  compromising  posi- 
tion, you  are  ready  to  abandon  us  at  the  most  critical 
moment  ?  " 

"  Can  you  think  such  a  thing,  mademoiselle  ?  " 

"  You  can  act  as  you  please,  Counsellor ;  Norbert  is 
still  left  to  me ;  he  will  protect  me." 

Daumon  shook  his  head  with  an  air  of  deep  sorrow. 

"  How  can  we  be  sure  that  at  this  very  moment 
the  Marquis  has  not  given  in  to  all  his  father's 
wishes?  " 

"  No,"  exclaimed  the  girl ;  "  such  a  supposition  is  an 
insult  to  Norbert.  He^  would  sooner  die  than  give  in. 
He  may  be  timid,  but  he  is  not  a  coward ;  the  thoughts 
of  me  will  give  him  the  power  to  resist  his  father's 
tyranny." 

Daumon  allowed  himself  to  fall  into  his  great  arm- 
chair as  though  overcome  by  the  excitement  of  this 
interview. 

"  We  can  talk  coolly  enough  here  and  with  no  one 
to  threaten  us ;  but  the  Marquis,  on  the  other  hand,  is 
exposed  to  all  his  father's  violence  and  ill  treatment, 
moral  as  well  as  physical,  without  any  defence  or  aid 
from  a  soul  in  the  world,  and  in  such  times  as  these 
the  strongest  will  may  give  way." 

"  Yes,  I  see  it  all ;  Norbert  may  give  in,  he  may 
marry  another  woman,  and  I  shall  be  left  alone,  with 
my  reputation  gone,  and  the  scorn  and  scoflf  of  all 
the  neighborhood." 


THE    LITTLE    GLASS    BOTTLE 
"  But,  mademoiselle,  you  still  have " 


"  All  I  have  left  is  life,  and  that  life  I  would  gladly 
give  for  vengeance." 

There  was  something  so  terribly  determined  in 
the  young  girl's  voice  that  again  Daumon  started,  and 
this  time  his  start  was  sincere  and  not  simulated. 

"  Yes,  you  are  right,"  said  he,  "  and  there  are  many 
besides  myself  who  have  vowed  to  have  revenge  on 
the  Duke,  and  their  time  will  come,  have  no  fear.  A 
quiet  shot  in  the  woods  in  the  dusk  of  the  evening 
would  settle  many  a  long  account.  It  has  been  tried, 
but  the  old  man  seems  to  have  the  luck  of  the  evil 
one ;  and  if  the  gun  did  not  miss  fire,  the  bullets  flew 
wide  of  the  mark.  A  judge  might  take  a  very  serious 
view  of  such  a  matter,  and  term  a  crime  what  was 
merely  an  act  of  justice.  Who  can  say  whether  the 
death  of  the  Duke  de  Champdoce  might  not  save  him 
from  the  commission  of  many  acts  of  tyranny  and  op- 
pression and  render  many  deserving  persons  happy  ?  " 

The  face  of  Diana  de  Laurebourg  turned  deadly 
pale  as  she  listened  to  these  specious  arguments. 

"  As  things  go,"  continued  Daumon,  "  the  Duke  may 
go  on  living  to  a  hundred ;  he  is  wealthy  and  influen- 
tial, and  to  a  certain  degree  looked  up  to.  He  will 
die  peacefully  in  his  bed,  there  will  be  a  magnificent 
funeral,  and  masses  will  be  sung  for  the  repose  of 
his  soul." 

While  he  spoke  the  Counsellor  had  taken  the  little 
bottle  from  beside  his  account  books  and  was  turning 
it  over  and  over  between  his  fingers. 

"  Ye&,"  murmured  he,  thoughtfully ;  "  the  Duke  is 
quite  likely  to  outlive  us  all,  unless,  indeed " 

He  took  the  cork  from  the  bottle,  and  poured  a  little 
of  the  contents  into  the  palm  of  his  hand.     A  few 


82  THE   CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

grains  of  fine  white  powder,  glittering-  like  crystal, 
appeared  on  the  brown  skin  of  the  Counsellor. 

"  And  yet,"  he  went  on,  in  cold,  sinister  accents, 
"  let  him  but  take  a  small  pinch  of  this,  and  no  one 
need  fear  his  tyranny  again  in  this  world.  No  one  is 
much  afraid  of  a  man  who  lies  some  six  feet  under 
ground,  shut  up  in  a  strong  oak  coffin,  with  a  finely 
carved  gravestone  over  his  head." 

He  stopped  short,  and  fixed  his  keen  eyes  upon  the 
agitated  girl,  who  stood  in  front  of  him.  For  at  least 
two  minutes  the  man  and  the  girl  stood  face  to  face, 
motionless,  and  without  exchanging  a  word.  Through 
the  dead,  weird  silence,  the  pulsations  of  their  hearts 
were  plainly  audible.  It  seemed  as  if  before  speaking 
again  each  wished  to  fathom  the  depths  of  guilt  that 
lay  in  the  other's  heart.  It  was  a  compact  entered  into 
by  look  and  not  by  speech ;  and  Daumon  so  well  under- 
stood this,  that  at  length,  when  he  did  speak,  his  voice 
sank  to  a  hoarse  whisper,  as  though  he  himself  feared 
to  listen  to  the  utterance  of  his  own  thoughts. 

"  A  man  taking  this  feels  no  pain.  It  is  like  a  heavy, 
stunning  blow  on  the  forehead — in  ten  seconds  all  is 
over,  no  gasp,  no  cry,  but  the  heart  ceases  to  beat  for- 
ever; and,  best  of  all,  it  leaves  no  trace  behind  it. 
A  little  of  this,  such  a  little,  in  wine  or  cofifee,  would 
be  enough.  It  is  tasteless,  colorless,  and  scentless,  its 
presence  is  impossible  to  be  detected." 

"  But  in  the  event  of  a  post-mortem  examina- 
tion?" 

"  By  skilful  analysts  in  Paris  or  the  larger  towns, 
there  would  be  a  chance;  but  in  a  place  like  this, 
never !  Never,  in  fact,  anywhere,  unless  there  had 
been  previous  grounds  for  suspicion.  Otherwise  only 
apoplectic  symptoms  would  be  observed;  and  even  if 


THE    LITTLE    GLASS    BOTTLE  83 

it  was  traced,  there  comes  the  question,  By  whom  was 
it  administered  ?  " 

He  stopped  short,  for  a  word  rose  to  his  hps  which 
he  did  not  dare  utter ;  he  raised  his  hands  to  his  mouth, 
coughed  slightly,  and  went  on, — 

"  This  substance  is  not  sold  by  chemists ;  it  is  very 
rarely  met  with,  difficult  to  prepare,  and  terribly  ex- 
pensive. The  smallest  quantity  might  be  met  with  in 
the  first-class  laboratories  for  scientific  purposes,  but 
it  is  most  unlikely  for  any  one  in  these  parts  to  possess 
any  of  this  drug,  or  even  to  know  of  its  existence." 

"  And  yet  you " 

"  That  is  quite  another  matter.  Years  ago,  when  I 
was  far  away  from  here,  it  was  in  my  power  to  render 
a  great  service  to  a  distinguished  chemist,  and  he 
made  me  a  present  of  this  combination  of  his  skill. 
It  would  be  impossible  to  trace  this  bottle;  I  have 
had  it  ten  years,  and  the  man  who  gave  it  to  me  is 
dead.    Ten  years?  no,  I  am  wrong,  it  is  now  twelve." 

"  And  in  all  these  years  has  not  this  substance  lost 
any  of  its  destructive  powers  ?  " 

"  I  tried  it  only  a  month  ago.  I  threw  a  pinch  of 
it  into  a  basin  of  milk  and  gave  it  to  a  powerful  mas- 
tiflf.  He  drank  the  milk  and  in  ten  seconds  fell  stark 
and  dead." 

"  Horrible !  "  exclaimed  Diana,  covering  her  face 
with  her  hand,  and  recoiling  from  the  tempter. 

A  sinister  smile  quivered  upon  the  thin  lips  of  the 
Counsellor. 

"  Why  do  you  say  horrible  ?  "  asked  he ;  "  the  dog 
had  shown  symptoms  of  rabies,  and  had  he  bitten  me, 
I  might  have  expired  in  frightful  torture.  Was  it  not 
fair  self-defence?  Sometimes,  however,  a  man  is 
more  dangerous  than  a  dog.    A  man  blights  the  whole 


84  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

of  my  life;  I  strike  him  down  openly,  and  the  law 
convicts  me  and  puts  me  to  death ;  but  I  do  not  con- 
template doing  so,  for  I  would  suppress  such  a  man 
secretly." 

Diana  placed  her  hands  on  the  man's  mouth  and 
stopped  a  further  exposition  of  his  ideas. 

"  Listen  to  me,"  said  she.  But  at  this  moment  a 
heavy  step  was  heard  outside.  "  It  is  Norbert,"  gasped 
she. 

"  Impossible !  it  is  more  likely  his  father." 

"  It  is  Norbert,"  cried  Mademoiselle  de  Laurebourg, 
and  snatching  the  little  bottle  from  the  Counsellor's 
hands,  she  thrust  it  into  her  bosom.  The  door  flew 
open,  and  Norbert  appeared  on  the  threshold.  Diana 
and  the  Counsellor  both  uttered  a  shriek  of  terror. 
His  livid  countenance  seemed  to  indicate  that  he 
had  passed  through  some  terrible  scene ;  his  gait  was 
unsteady,  his  clothes  torn  and  disordered,  and  his 
face  stained  with  blood,  which  had  flowed  from  a 
cut  over  his  temple.  Daumon  imagined  that  some 
outrage  had  taken  place. 

"  You  have  been  wounded.  Marquis  ?  "  said  he. 

"  Yes,  my  father  struck  me." 

"  Can  it  be  possible  ?  " 

"  Yes,  he  struck  me." 

Mademoiselle  Diana  had  feared  this,  and  she  trem- 
bled with  the  terror  of  her  vague  conjectures  as  she 
made  a  step  towards  her  lover. 

"  Permit  me  to  examine  your  wound,"  said  she. 

She  placed  both  her  hands  at  the  side  of  his  head 
and  stood  on  tip-toe,  the  better  to  inspect  the  cut.  As 
she  did  so,  she  shuddered ;  an  inch  lower,  and  the 
consequences  might  have  been  fatal." 

"  Quick,"  she  said,  "  give  me  some  rags  and  water." 


THE   LITTLE   GLASS    BOTTLE  85 

Norbert  gently  disengaged  himself.  "  It  is  a  mere 
nothing,"  said  he,  "  and  can  be  looked  after  later  on. 
Fortunately  I  did  not  receive  the  whole  weight  of  the 
blow,  which  would  otherwise  have  brought  me  sense- 
less to  the  ground,  and  perhaps  I  should  have  been 
slain  by  my  father's  hand." 

"  By  the  Duke?  and  for  what  reason  did  he  strike 
you  ?  " 

"  Diana,  he  had  grossly  insulted  you,  and  he  dared 
to  tell  me  of  it.  Had  he  forgotten  that  the  blood  of 
the  race  of  Champdoce  ran  in  my  veins  as  well  as  in 
his?" 

Mademoiselle  de  Laurebourg  burst  into  a  passionr 
of  tears. 

"  I,"  sobbed  she,  "  I  have  brought  all  this  uport 
you." 

"You?  Why,  it  is  to  you  that  he  owes  his  life. 
He  dared  to  strike  me  as  if  I  had  been  a  lackey,  but 
the  thoughts  of  you  stayed  my  hand.  I  turned  and 
fled,  and  never  again  will  I  enter  that  accursed  house. 
I  renounce  the  Duke  de  Champdoce,  he  is  no  longer 
my  father,  and  I  will  never  look  upon  his  face  again. 
Would  that  I  could  forget  that  such  a  man  existed; 
but,  no,  I  would  rather  that  I  remembered  him  for 
the  sake  of  revenge." 

Again  the  heart  of  Daumon  overflowed  with  joy. 
All  his  deeply  malignant  spirit  thrilled  pleasantly  as 
he  heard  these  words. 

"  Marquis,"  said  he,  "  perhaps  you  will  now  believe 
with  me  that  in  all  misfortunes  there  is  an  element  of 
luck,  for  your  father  has  committed  an  act  of  impru- 
dence which  will  yet  cost  him  dear.  It  is  very  strange 
that  so  astute  a  man  as  the  Duke  de  Giampdoce  should 
have  allowed  his  passion  to  carry  him  away." 


86  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Simply  that  you  can  be  freed  from  the  tyranny 
of  your  father  whenever  you  Hke  now.  We  now  have 
all  that  is  necessary  for  lodging  a  formal  plaint  in 
court.  We  have  sequestration  of  the  person,  threats 
and  bodily  violence  by  the  aid  of  third  parties,  and 
words  and  blows  which  have  endangered  life ;  our  case 
is  entirely  complete.  A  surgeon  will  examine  your 
wound,  and  give  a  written  deposition.  We  can  pro- 
duce plenty  of  evidence,  and  the  wound  on  the  head 
will  tell  its  own  story.  As  a  commencement  we  will 
petition  that  we  may  not  be  ordered  back  to  our 
father's  custody,  and  it  will  further  be  set  forth  that 
our  reason  for  this  is  that  a  father  has  assaulted  a 
son  with  undue  and  unnecessary  violence.  We  shall 
be  sure  to  gain  the  day,  and " 

*'  Enough,"  broke  in  Norbert ;  "  will  the  decision 
give  me  the  right  to  marry  whom  I  please  without  my 
father's  consent  ?  " 

Daumon  hesitated.  Under  the  circumstances,  it 
seemed  to  him  very  likely  that  the  court  would  grant 
Norbert  the  liberty  he  desired ;  he,  however,  thought 
it  advisable  not  to  say  so,  and  answered  boldly,  "  No, 
Marquis,  it  will  not  do  so." 

"  Well,  then,  the  Champdoce  family  have  never 
exposed  their  differences  to  the  public,  nor  will  I  begin 
to  do  so,"  said  N"orbert  decisively. 

The  Counsellor  seemed  surprised  at  this  determi- 
nation. 

"  If,  Marquis,"  he  began,  "  I  might  venture  to 
advise  you " 

"  No  advice  is  necessar}^,  my  mind  is  entirely  made 
up,  but  I  need  some  help,  and  in  twenty-four  hours  I 


THE   LITTLE   GLASS    BOTTLE  87 

require  a  large  sum  of  money — twenty  thousand 
francs." 

"  You  can  have  them,  Marquis,  but  I  warn  you  that 
you  will  have  to  pay  heavily  for  the  accommodation." 

"  That  I  care  nothing  for." 

Mademoiselle  de  Laurebourg  was  about  to  speak, 
but  with  a  gesture  of  his  hand  Norbert  arrested  her. 

"  Do  you  not  comprehend  me,  Diana  ?  "  said  he ; 
"  we  must  fly,  and  that  at  once.  We  can  find  some 
safe  retreat  where  we  can  live  happily,  where  no  one 
will  harm  us." 

"  But  this  is  mere  madness !  "  cried  Diana. 

"  You  will  be  pursued,"  remarked  the  Counsellor ; 
"  and  most  likely  overtaken." 

"  Can  you  not  trust  your  life  to  me  ?  "  asked  Nor- 
bert reproachfully.  "  I  swear  that  I  will  devote  every- 
thing to  you,  life,  thought  and  will.  On  my  knees  I 
entreat  you  to  fly  with  me." 

"  I  cannot,"  murmured  she ;  "  it  is  impossible." 

"  Then  you  do  not  love  me,"  said  he  in  desponding 
accents.  "  I  have  been  a  thrice-besotted  fool  to  believe 
that  your  heart  was  mine,  for  you  can  never  have 
loved  me." 

"  Hear  him,  merciful  powers !  he  says  that  I,  who 
am  all  his,  do  not  love  him." 

"  Then  why  cast  aside  our  only  chance  of  safety  ?  " 

"  Norbert,  dearest  Norbert !  " 

"  I  understand  you  too  well ;  you  are  alarmed  at  the 
idea  of  the  world's  censure,  and " 

He  paused,  checked  by  the  gleam  of  reproach  that 
shone  in  Diana's  eyes. 

"  Must  it  be  so?"  said  she;  "  must  I  condescend  to 
justify  myself?    You  talk  to  me  of  the  world's  cen- 


88  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

sure?  Have  I  not  already  defied  it,  and  has  it  not 
sat  in  judgment  upon  me?  And  what  have  I  done, 
after  all  ?  Every  act  and  word  that  has  passed  between 
us  I  can  repeat  to  my  mother  without  a  blush  rising 
to  my  cheek ;  but  would  any  one  credit  my  words  ?  No, 
not  a  living  soul.  Most  likely  the  world  has  come  to 
a  decision.  My  reputation  is  gone,  is  utterly  lost,  and 
yet  I  am  spotless  as  the  driven  snow." 

Norbert  was  half-mad  with  anger. 

"  Who  will  dare  to  treat  you  with  anything  save 
with  the  most  profound  respect  ?  "  said  he. 

"  Alas !  my  dear  Norbert,"  replied  she,  "  to-morrow 
the  scandal  will  be  even  greater.  While  your  father 
was  talking  to  me  with  such  brutal  violence  and 
contempt,  he  was  overheard  by  a  woodcutter  and  per- 
haps by  some  of  his  companions." 

"  It  cannot  be." 

"  No,  it  is  quite  true,"  returned  Daumon.  "  I  had 
it  from  the  man  myself." 

Mademoiselle  de  Laurebourg  shot  one  glance  at 
the  Counsellor;  it  was  only  a  glance,  but  he  compre- 
hended at  once  that  she  wished  to  be  left  alone  with 
her  lover. 

"Pardon  me,"  said  he,  "but  I  think  I  have  a  visi- 
tor, and  I  must  hinder  any  one  from  coming  in 
here." 

He  left  the  room  as  he  spoke,  closing  the  door 
noisily  behind  him. 

"  And  so,"  resumed  Norbert  when  alone,  "  it 
seems  that  the  Duke  de  Champdoce  did  not  even  take 
the  ordinary  precaution  of  assuring  himself  that  you 
were  in  privacy  before  he  spoke  as  he  did,  and  was 
so  carried  away  by  his  fury  that  he  never  thought  that 
in  casting  dishonor  upon  you,  he  was  heaping  infamy 


THE   LITTLE   GLASS    BOTTLE  89 

on  me.  Does  he  think  by  these  means  to  compel  me 
to  marry  the  heiress  whom  he  has  chosen  for  me, 
the  Mademoiselle  de  Puymandour  ?  " 

For  the  first  time  Diana  learned  the  name  of  her 
rival. 

"  Ah ! "  moaned  she  between  her  sobs,  "  so  it  is 
Mademoiselle  de  Puymandour  that  he  wants  you  to 
marry  ?  " 

"Yes,  the  same,  or  rather  her  enormous  wealth; 
but  may  my  hand  wither  before  it  clasps  hers.  Do 
you  hear  me,  Diana  ?  " 

She  gave  a  sad  smile  and  murmured,  "  Poor  Nor- 
bert!" 

The  heart  of  the  young  man  sank;  so  melancholy 
was  the  tone  of  her  voice. 

"  You  are  very  cruel,"  said  he.  "  What  have  I  done 
to  deserve  this  want  of  confidence  ?  " 

Diana  made  no  reply,  and  Norbert,  believing  that 
he  understood  the  reason  why  she  refused  to  fly  with 
him,  said,  "  Is  it  because  you  have  no  faith  in  me, 
that  you  will  not  accompany  me  in  my  flight  ?  " 

"No;  I  have  perfect  faith  in  you." 

"  What  is  it,  then  ?  Do  I  not  offer  you  fortune  and 
happiness?    Tell  me  what  it  is  then." 

She  drew  herself  up,  and  said  proudly,  "  Up  to 
this  time,  my  conscience  has  enabled  me  to  hold  my 
own  against  all  the  scandalous  gossip  that  has  been 
flying  about,  but  now  it  says,  *  Halt,  Diana  de  Laure- 
bourgl  you  have  gone  far  enough.'  My  burden  is 
heavy,  my  heart  is  breaking,  but  I  must  draw  back 
now.    No,  Norbert ;  I  cannot  fly  with  you." 

She  paused  for  a  moment,  as  though  unable  to 
proceed,  and  then  went  on  with  more  firmness,  "  Were 
I  alone  and  solitary  in  the  world,  I  might  act  dif- 


•po  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

ferently;  but  I  have  a  family,  whose  honor  I  must 
guard  as  I  would  my  own." 

"  A  family  indeed,  which  sacrifices  you  to  your 
elder  brother." 

"  It  may  be  so,  and  therefore  my  task  is  all  the 
greater.  Who  ever  heard  of  virtue  as  something  easy 
to  practise  ?  " 

Norbert  never  remembered  what  an  example  of 
rebellion  she  had  set. 

"  My  heart  and  my  conscience  dictate  the  same 
course  to  me.  The  result  must  ever  be  fatal,  when 
a  young  girl  sets  at  defiance  the  rules  and  laws  of 
society;  and  you  would  never  care  to  look  with  re- 
spect on  one  upon  whom  others  gazed  with  the  eye 
of  contempt." 

"  What  sort  of  an  opinion  have  you  of  me, 
then?" 

"  I  believe  you  to  be  a  man,  Norbert.  Let  us  sup- 
pose that  I  fly  with  you,  and  that  the  next  day  I  should 
hear  that  my  father  had  been  killed  in  a  duel  fought 
on  my  account;  what  then?  Believe  me  that  when  I 
tell  you  to  fly  by  yourself,  I  give  you  the  best  advice 
in  my  power.  You  will  forget  me,  I  know;  but  what 
else  can  I  hope  for?" 

"  Forget  you !  "  said  Norbert  angrily.  "  Can  you 
forget  me  ?  " 

His  face  was  so  close  to  hers  that  she  felt  the  hot 
breath  upon  her  cheek. 

"  Yes,"  stammered  she,  with  a  violent  effort,  "  I 
can." 

Norbert  drew  a  pace  back,  that  he  might  read  her 
meaning  more  fully  in  her  eyes. 

"  And  if  I  go  away,"  asked  he,  "  what  will  become 
►  ofyou?" 


THE    LITTLE    GLASS    BOTTLE  91 

A  sob  burst  from  the  young  girl's  breast,  and  her 
strength  seemed  to  desert  her  Hmbs. 

"  I,"  answered  she,  in  the  calm,  resigned  voice  of 
a  Christian  virgin  about  to  be  cast  to  the  lions  that 
roared  in  the  arena,  "  I  have  my  destiny.  To-day  is  the 
last  time  that  we  shall  ever  meet.  I  shall  return  to 
my  home,  where  everything  will  shortly  be  known.  I 
shall  find  my  father  angry  and  menacing.  He  will 
place  me  in  a  carriage,  and  the  next  day  I  shall  find 
myself  within  the  walls  of  the  hated  convent." 

"  But  that  Hfe  would  be  one  long,  slow  agony  to 
you.    You  have  told  me  this  before." 

"  Yes,"  answered  she,  "  it  would  be  an  agony,  but 
it  would  also  be  an  expiation;  and  when  the  burden 
grows  too  heavy,  I  have  this." 

And  as  she  spoke,  she  drew  the  little  bottle  from 
its  hiding-place  in  her  bosom,  and  Norbert .  too 
well  understood  her  meaning.  The  young  man  en- 
deavored to  take  it  from  her,  but  she  resisted.  This 
contest  seemed  to  exhaust  her  little  strength,  her 
beautiful  eyes  closed,  and  she  sank  senseless  into  Nor- 
bert's  arms.  In  an  agony  of  despair,  the  young  man 
asked  himself  if  she  was  dying;  and  yet  there  was 
sufficient  life  in  her  to  enable  her  to  whisper,  soft  and 
low,  these  words,  "  My  only  friend — let  me  have  it 
back,  dear  Norbert."  And  then,  with  perfect  clearness, 
she  repeated  all  the  deadly  properties  of  the  drug,  and 
the  directions  for  its  use  that  the  Counsellor  had 
given  to  her. 

On  hearing  the  woman  whom  he  loved  with  such 
intense  passion  confess  that  she  would  sooner  die  than 
live  apart  from  him,  Norbert's  brain  reeled. 

"  Diana,  my  own  Diana !  "  repeated  he,  as  he  hung 
over  her. 


92  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

Biit  she  went  on,  as  though  speaking  through  the 
promptings  of  delirium. 

"The  very  day  after  such  a  fair  prospect !  Ah,  Duke 
de  Champdoce !  you  are  a  hard  and  pitiless  man.  You 
have  robbed  me  of  all  I  held  dear  in  the  world,  black- 
ened my  reputation,  and  tarnished  my  honor,  and  now 
you  want  my  life." 

Norbert  uttered  such  a  cry  of  anger,  that  even  Dau- 
mon  in  the  passage  was  startled  by  it.  He  placed 
Diana  tenderly  in  the  Counsellor's  arm-chair,  saying, — 

"  No,  you  shall  not  kill  yourself,  nor  shall  you 
leave  me." 

She  smiled  faintly,  and  held  out  her  arms  to  him. 
Her  magic  spells  were  deftly  woven. 

"  No,"  cried  he ;  "  the  poison  which  you  had  in- 
tended to  use  on  yourself  shall  become  my  weapon  of 
vengeance,  and  the  instrument  of  punishment  of  the 
one  who  has  wronged  you." 

And  with  the  gait  of  a  man  walking  in  his  sleep,  he 
left  the  Counsellor's  office. 

Hardly  had  the  young  man's  footsteps  died  away, 
than  Daumon  entered  the  room.  He  had  not  lost  a 
word  or  action  in  the  foregoing  scene,  and  he  was 
terribly  agitated;  and  he  could  scarcely  believe  his 
eyes  when  he  saw  Diana,  whom  he  had  supposed  to 
be  lying  half-insensible  in  the  arm-chair,  standing  at 
the  window,  gazing  after  Norbert,  as  he  walked  along 
the  road  leading  from  the  Counsellor's  cottage. 

"  Ah !  what  a  woman !  "  muttered  he.  "  Gracious 
powers,  what  a  wonderful  woman !  " 

When  Diana  had  lost  sight  of  her  lover,  she  turned 
round  to  Daumon.  Her  face  was  pale,  and  her  eye- 
lids swollen,  but  her  eyes  flashed  with  the  conviction 
of  success. 


THE   LITTLE   GLASS    BOTTLE  93 

"  To-morrow,  Counsellor,"  said  she,  "  to-morrow  I 
shall  be  the  Duchess  de  Champdoce." 

Daumon  was  so  overwhelmed  that,  accustomed  as 
he  was  to  startling  events  and  underhand  trickery,  he 
could  find  no  words  to  express  his  feelings. 

"  That  is  to  say,"  added  Diana  thoughtfully,  "  if  all 
goes  as  it  should  to-night." 

Daumon  felt  a  cold  shiver  creep  over  him,  but  sum- 
moning up  all  his  self-possession,  he  said,  "I  do  not 
understand  you.  What  is  this  that  you  hope  will  be 
accomplished  to-night  ?  " 

She  turned  so  contemptuous  and  sarcastic  a  look  on 
him,  that  the  words  died  away  in  his  mouth,  and  he 
at  once  saw  his  mistake  in  thinking  that  he  could  sport 
with  the  girl's  feelings  as  a  cat  plays  with  a  mouse; 
for  it  was  she  who  was  playing  with  him,  and  she,  a 
simple  girl,  had  made  this  wily  man  of  the  world  her 
dupe. 

"  Success  is,  of  course,  a  certainty,"  answered  she 
coldly;  "but  Norbert  is  impetuous,  and  impetuous 
people  are  often  awkward.  But  I  must  return  home  at 
once.  Ah,  me ! "  she  added,  as  her  self-control  gave 
way  for  a  moment,  "  will  this  cruel  night  never  pass 
away,  and  give  way  to  the  gentle  light  of  dawn? 
Farewell,  Counsellor.  When  we  meet  again,  all  mat- 
ters will  be  settled,  one  way  or  other." 

The  Parthian  dart  which  Mademoiselle  de  Laure- 
bourg  had  cast  behind  her  went  true  to  the  mark ;  the 
allusion  to  Norbert's  impetuosity  and  awkwardness 
rendered  the  Counsellor  very  unhappy.  He  sat  down 
in  his  arm-chair,  and,  resting  his  head  on  his  hands, 
and  his  elbows  on  his  desk,  he  strove  to  review  the 
position  thoroughly.     Perhaps  by  now  all  might  be 


94  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

over.    Where  was  Norbert,  and  what  was  he  doing? 
he  asked  himself. 

At  the  time  that  Daumon  was  reflecting,  Norbert 
was  on  the  road  leading  to  Champdoce.  He  had  en- 
tirely lost  his  head,  but  he  found  that  his  reason  was 
clear  and  distinct.  Those  who  have  been  accustomed 
to  the  treatment  of  maniacs  know  with  what  startling 
rapidity  they  form  a  chain  of  action,  and  the  cloud 
that  veiled  Norbert's  brain  appeared  to  throw  out  into 
stronger  relief  the  murderous  determination  he  had 
formed.  He  had  already  decided  how  the  deed  was  to 
be  done.  The  common  wine  of  the  country  was  always 
served  to  the  laborers  at  the  table,  but  the  Duke  kept 
a  better  quality  for  his  own  drinking,  and  the  bottle 
containing  this  was  after  meals  placed  on  a  shelf  in 
a  cupboard  in  the  dining-room.  It  was  thus  within 
every  one's  ^ reach,  but  not  a  soul  in  the  household 
would  have  ventured  to  lay  a  finger  upon  it.  Nor- 
bert's thoughts  fell  upon  this  bottle,  and  in  his  mind's 
eye  he  could  see  it  standing  in  its  accustomed  place. 
He  crossed  the  courtyard,  and  the  laborers,  engaged 
in  their  tasks,  gazed  at  him  curiously.  He  passed 
them,  and  entered  the  dining-room,  which  was  unten- 
anted. With  a  caution  that  was  not  to  be  expected 
from  the  agitation  of  his  mind,  he  opened  each  door 
successively,  in  order  to  be  certain  that  no  eyes  were 
gazing  upon  him.  Then,  with  the  greatest  rapidity, 
he  took  down  the  bottle,  drew  the  cork  with  his  teeth, 
and  dropped  into  the  wine,  not  one,  but  two  or  three 
pinches  of  the  contents  of  the  little  vial.  He  shook 
the  bottle  gently,  to  facilitate  the  dissolution  of  the 
powder.  A  few  particles  of  the  poison  clung  to  the 
lip  of  the  bottle;  he  wiped  off  these,  not  with  a  nap- 
kin, a  pile  of  which  lay  on  the  shelf  beside  him,  but 


THE   LITTLE    GLASS    BOTTLE  95 

with  his  own  handkerchief.  He  replaced  the  bottle 
in  its  accustomed  place,  and  seating  himself  by  the 
fire,  awaited  the  course  of  events. 

At  this  moment  the  Duke  de  Champdoce  was  coming 
up  the  avenue  at  a  rapid  pace.  For  the  first  time, 
perhaps,  in  his  life,  this  man  perceived  that  one  of 
his  last  acts  had  been  insensate  and  foolish  in  the 
extreme.  All  the  possibilities  of  the  law  to  which 
Daumon  had  alluded  struck  the  Duke  with  over- 
whelming force,  and  he  at  once  saw  that  his  violent 
conduct  had  given  ample  grounds  upon  which  to  base 
a  plaint,  with  results  which  he  greatly  feared.  If  the 
court  entertained  the  matter,  his  son  would  most  likely 
be  removed  from  his  control.  He  knew  that  such  an 
idea  would  never  cross  Norbert's  brain,  but  there  were 
plenty  of  persons  to  suggest  it  to  him.  The  danger  of 
his  position  occurred  to  him,  and  at  the  same  time  he 
felt  that  he  must  frame  his  future  conduct  with  extreme 
prudence.  He  had  not  given  up  his  views  regarding 
his  son's  marriage  with  Mademoiselle  de  Puyman- 
dour.  No;  he  would  sooner  have  resigned  life  itself, 
but  he  felt  that  he  must  renounce  violence,  and  gain 
his  ends  by  diplomacy.  The  first  thing  to  be  done 
was  to  get  Norbert  to  return  home,  and  the  father 
greatly  doubted  whether  the  son  would  do  so.  While 
thinking  over  these  things,  with  a  settled  gloom  upon 
his  face,  one  of  the  servants  came  running  up  to  him 
with  the  news  of  Norbert's  return. 

"  I  hold  him  at  last,"  muttered  he,  and  hastened 
on  to  the  Chateau. 

When  the  Duke  entered  the  dining-room,  Norbert 
did  not  rise  from  his  seat,  and  the  Duke  was  dis- 
agreeably impressed  by  this  breach  of  the  rules  of 
domestic  etiquette. 


96  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

"  On  my  word,"  thought  he,  "  it  would  appear  that 
the  young  booby  thinks  that  he  owes  me  no  kind  of 
duty  whatever." 

He  did  not,  however,  allow  his  anger  to  be  manifest 
in  his  features;  besides,  the  sight  of  the  blood,  with 
which  his  son's  face  was  still  smeared,  caused  him  to 
feel  excessively  uncomfortable. 

"  Norbert,  my  son,"  said  he,  "  are  you  suffering  ? 
Why  have  you  not  had  that  cut  attended  to  ?  " 

The  young  man  made  no  reply,  and  the  Duke  con- 
tinued,— 

"  Why  have  you  not  washed  the  blood  away?  Is  it 
left  there  as  a  reproach  to  me  ?  There  is  no  need  for 
that,  I  assure  you;  for  deeply  do  I  deplore  my  vio- 
lence." 

Norbert  still  made  no  answer,  and  the  Duke  became 
more  and  more  embarrassed.  To  give  himself  time 
for  reflection,  more  than  because  he  was  thirsty,  he 
took  a  glass,  and  filled  it  from  his  own  special  bottle. 

Norbert  trembled  from  head  to  foot  as  he  saw 
this  act. 

"  Come,  my  son,"  continued  the  Duke,  "  just  try 
if  you  cannot  find  some  palliation  for  what  your  old 
father  has  done.  I  am  ready  to  ask  your  forgiveness, 
and  to  apologize,  for  a  man  of  honor  is  never  ashamed 
to  acknowledge  when  he  has  been  in  the  wrong." 

He  raised  his  glass,  and  raised  it  up  to  the  light 
half  mechanically.  Norbert  held  his  breath ;  the  whole 
world  seemed  turning  round. 

"  It  is  hard,  very  hard,"  continued  the  Duke,  "  for 
a  father  thus  to  humiliate  himself  in  vain  before  his 
son. 

It  was  useless  for  Norbert  to  turn  away  his  head; 
he  saw  the  Duke  place  the  glass  to  his  lips.    He  was 


THE   HONOR   OF   THE   NAME  97 

about  to  drink,  but  the  young  man  could  endure  it  no 
longer,  and  with  a  bound  he  sprang  forward,  snatched 
the  glass  from  his  father's  hand,  and  hurled  it  from 
the  window,  shouting  in  a  voice  utterly  unlike  his 
own, — 

"  Do  not  drink." 

The  Duke  read  the  whole  hideous  truth  in  the  face 
and  manner  of  his  son.  His  features  quivered,  his 
face  grew  purple,  and  his  eyes  filled  with  blocd.  He 
strove  to  speak,  but  only  an  inarticulate  rattle  could 
be  heard ;  he  then  clasped  his  hands  convulsively, 
swayed  backwards  and  forwards,  and  then  fell  help- 
lessly backwards,  striking  his  head  against  an  oakerl 
sideboard  that  stood  near.  Norbert  tore  open  the 
door. 

"  Quick,  help ! "  cried  he.  "  I  have  killed  my 
father." 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE  HONOR  OF  THE  NAME. 

The  account  that  the  Duke  de  Champdoce  had 
given  of  M.  de  Puymandour's  mad  longing  for  rank 
and  title  was  true,  and  afforded  a  melancholy  instance 
of  that  peculiar  kind  of  foolish  vanity.  He  was  a 
much  happier  man  in  his  younger  days,  when  he  was 
known  simply  as  Palouzet,  which  was  his  father's 
name,  whose  only  wish  for  distinction  was  to  be  looked 
upon  as  an  honest  man.  In  those  days  he  was  much 
looked  up  to  and  respected,  as  a  man  who  had  pos- 
sessed brains  enough  to  amass  a  very  large  fortune 
by  strictly  honest  means.    All  this  vanished,  however, 


98  THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

when  the  unhappy  idea  occurred  to  him  to  affix  the 
title  of  Count  to  the  name  of  an  estate  that  he  had 
recently  purchased. 

From  that  moment,  all  his  tribulations  in  life  may 
have  been  said  to  have  commenced.  The  nobility 
laughed  at  his  assumption  of  hereditary  rank,  while 
the  middle  classes  frowned  at  his  pretensions  to  be 
superior  to  them,  so  that  he  passed  the  existence  of 
a  shuttlecock,  continually  suspended  in  the  air,  and 
struck  at  and  dismissed  from  either  side. 

It  may,  therefore,  be  easily  imagined  how  exces- 
sively anxious  he  was  to  bring  about  the  marriage 
between  his  daughter  Marie  and  the  son  of  that 
mighty  nobleman,  the  Duke  de  Champdoce.  He  had 
offered  to  sacrifice  one-third  of  his  fortune  for  the 
honor  of  forming  this  connection,  and  would  have 
given  up  the  whole  of  it,  could  he  but  have  seen  a 
child  in  whose  veins  ran  the  united  blood  of  Palouzet 
and  the  Champdoce  seated  upon  his  knee.  A  mar- 
riage of  this  kind  would  have  given  him  a  real  posi- 
tion ;  for  to  have  a  Champdoce  for  a  son-in-law 
would  compel  all  scoffers  to  bridle  their  tongties. 

The  day  after  he  had  received  a  favorable  reply 
from  the  Duke,  M.  de  Puymandour  thought  that  it 
was  time  to  inform  his  daughter  of  his  intentions. 
He  never  thought  that  she  would  make  any  opposi- 
tion, and,  of  course,  supposed  that  she  would  be  as  de- 
lighted as  he  was  at  the  honor  that  awaited  her.  He 
was  seated  in  a  magnificently  furnished  room  which 
he  called  his  library  when  he  arrived  at  this  conclu- 
sion, and  ringing  the  bell,  ordered  the  servant  to  in- 
quire of  mademoiselle's  maid  if  her  mistress  could 
grant  him  an  interview.  He  gave  this  curious  mes- 
sage, which  did  not  appear  to  surprise  the  servant 


5"^           •  ■     '^^^as'.  ■jfe."?^^^HHr^ 

.'   '-'^f^  ^     'VM(^^              i"^'"^ 

I^Hu 

■ 

HE  CLASPED  HIS  HANDS  CONVULSIVELY,  AND  THEN  FELL  HELPLESSLY 
BACKWARDS,  STRIKING  HIS  HEAD  AGAINST  AN  OAKEN  SIDEBOARD 


THE   HONOR   OF   THE   NAME  99 

in  the  least,  with  an  air  of  the  utmost  importance. 
The  communication  between  the  father  and  daughter 
was  always  carried  on  upon  this  basis ;  and  scoffers 
wickedly  asserted  that  M.  de  Puymandour  had  mod- 
elled it  upon  a  book  of  etiquette,  for  the  guidance 
of  her  household,  written  by  a  venerable  arch- 
duchess. 

Shortly  after  the  man  had  departed  on  his  er- 
rand, a  little  tap  came  to  the  door. 

"  Come  in,"  exclaimed  M.  de  Puymandour. 

And  Mademoiselle  Marie  ran  in  and  gave  her 
father  a  kiss  upon  each  cheek.  He  frowned  slightly, 
and  extricated  himself  from  her  embrace. 

"  I  thought  it  better  to  come  to  you,  my  dear 
father,"  said  she,  "  than  to  give  you  the  trouble  of 
coming  all  the  way  to  me." 

"  You  always  forget  that  there  are  certain  forms 
and  ceremonies  necessary  for  a  young  lady  of  your 
position." 

Marie  gave  a  little  gentle  smile,  for  she  was  no 
stranger  to  her  father's  absurd  whims;  but  she  never 
thwarted  them,  for  she  was  very  fond  of  him.  She 
was  a  very  charming  young  lady,  and  in  the  de- 
scription that  the  Duke  had  given  of  her  to  his  son, 
he  had  not  flattered  her  at  all.  Though  she  differed 
greatly  in  appearance  from  Mademoiselle  de  Laure- 
bourg,  Marie's  beauty  was  perfect  in  a  style  of  its 
own.  She  was  tall  and  well  proportioned,  and  had 
all  that  easy  grace  of  movement,  characteristic  of 
women  of  Southern  parentage.  Her  large  soft  dark 
eyes  offered  a  vivid  contrast  to  her  creamy  complex- 
ion ;  her  hair,  in  utter  disregard  of  the  fashionable 
mode  of  dressing,  was  loosely  knotted  at  the  back 
of  her  head.     Her  nature  was  soft  and  affectionate, 


loo         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

capable  of  the  deepest  devotion,  while  she  had  the 
most  equable  temper  that  can  be  imagined. 

"  Come,  my  dear  papa,"  said  she ;  "  do  not  scold 
me  any  more.  You  know  that  the  Marchioness  of 
Arlanges  has  promised  to  teach  me  how  to  behave 
myself  according  to  all  the  rules  of  fashionable  soci- 
ety next  winter,  and  I  declare  to  you  that  I  will, 
so  practise  them  up  in  secret,  that  you  will  be  aston- 
ished when  you  behold  them." 

"  How  woman-like !  "  muttered  her  father.  "  She 
only  scoffs  at  matters  of  the  most  vital  importance." 

He  rose  from  his  seat,  and,  placing  his  back  to 
the  fireplace,  took  up  an  imposing  position,  one  hand 
buried  in  his  waistcoat,  and  the  other  ready  to  ges- 
ticulate as  occasion  required. 

"  Oblige  me  with  your  deepest  attention,"  com- 
menced he.  "  You  were  eighteen  years  of  age  last 
month,  and  I  have  an  important  piece  of  intelligence 
to  convey  to  you.  I  have  had  an  offer  of  marriage 
for  you." 

Marie  looked  down,  and  endeavored  to  hide  her 
confusion  at  these  tidings. 

"  Before  coming  to  a  conclusion  upon  a  matter  of 
such  importance,"  continued  he,  "  it  was,  of  course, 
necessary  for  me  to  go  into  the  question  most  thor- 
oughly. I  spared  no  means  of  obtaining  information, 
and  I  am  quite  certain  that  the  proposed  connection 
would  be  conducive  to  your  future  happiness.  The 
suitor  for  your  hand  is  but  Httle  older  than  your- 
self; he  is  very  handsome,  very  wealthy,  and  is  a 
Marquis  by  hereditary  right." 

"  Has  he  spoken  to  you  then  ?  "  inquired  Marie  in 
tones  of  extreme  agitation. 

"  He !    Whom  do  you  mean  by  he  ?  "  asked  M.  de 


THE   HONOR   OF   THE   NAME         loi 

Puymandour;  and  as  his  daughter  did  not  reply,  he 
repeated  his  question. 

"  Who  ?    Why,  George  de  Croisenois." 

"  Pray,  what  have  you  to  do  with  Croisenois  ? 
Who  is  he,  pray?  Not  that  dandy  with  a  mustache, 
that  I  have  seen  hanging  about  you  this  winter  ?  " 

"Yes,"  faltered  Marie;  "that  is  he." 

"  And  why  should  you  presume  that  he  had  asked 
me  for  your  hand  ?  Did  he  tell  you  that  he  was  going 
to  do  so?" 

"  Father,  I  declare " 

"  What,  the  daughter  of  a  Puymandour  has  lis- 
tened to  a  declaration  of  love  unknown  to  her  father  ? 
Ten  thousand  furies !  Has  he  written  to  you  ? 
Where  are  those  letters  ?  " 

"  My  dear  father " 

"  Silence ;  have  you  those  letters  ?  Let  me  see 
them.  Come,  no  delay;  I  will  have  those  bits  of 
paper,  if  I  turn  the  whole  house  upside  down." 

With  a  sigh  Marie  gave  the  much  prized  missives  to 
her  father;  there  were  four  only,  fastened  together 
with  a  morsel  of  blue  ribbon. 

He  took  one  out  at  random,  and  read  it  aloud, 
with  a  running  fire  of  oaths  and  invectives  as  a  com- 
mentary upon  its  contents. 

"  Mademoiselle, — 

"  Though  there  is  nothing  upon  earth  that  I 
dread  so  much  as  your  anger,  I  dare,  in  spite  of  your 
commands  to  the  contrary,  to  write  to  you  once  again. 
I  have  learned  that  you  are  about  to  quit  Paris  for  sev- 
eral months.  I  am  twenty-four  years  of  age.  I  have 
neither  father  nor  mother,  and  am  entirely  my  own 
master.  I  belong  to  an  ancient  and  honorable  family. 
My  fortune  is  a  large  one,  and  my  love  for  you  is  of 


I02         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

the  most  honorable  and  devoted  kind.  My  uncle,  M. 
de  Saumeuse,  knows  your  father  well ;  and  will  convey 
my  proposals  to  him  upon  his  return  from  Italy,  in 
about  two  or  three  weeks'  time.  Once  more  intreat- 
ing  you  to  forgive  me, 
"  I  remain^ 

"  Yours  respectfully, 

"  George  de  Croisenois." 

"  Very  pretty  indeed,"  said  M.  de  Puymandour, 
as  he  replaced  the  letter  in  its  envelope.  "  This  is 
sufficient,  and  I  need  not  read  the  others ;  but  pray, 
what  answer  did  you  give  ?  " 

"  That  I  must  refer  him  to  you,  my  dear  father." 
"  Indeed,  on  my  word,  you  do  me  too  much  honor ; 
and  did  you  really  think  that  I  would  listen  to  such 
proposals  ?    Perhaps  you  love  him  ?  " 

She  turned  her  lovely  face  towards  her  father, 
with  the  great  tears  rolling  down  her  cheeks  for  her 
sole  reply. 

This  mute  confession,  for  as  such  he  regarded  it, 
put  the  finishing  touch  to  M.  de  Puymandour's  ex- 
asperation. 

"  You  absolutely  love  him,  and  have  the  impudence 
to  tell  me  so  ?  " 

Marie  glanced  at  her  father,  and  answered, — 
"  The  Marquis  de  Croisenois  is  of  good  family," 
"  Pooh !  you  know  nothing  about  it.  Why,  the 
first  Croisenois  was  one  of  Richelieu's  minions,  and 
Louis  XIII.  conferred  the  title  for  some  shady  piece 
of  business  which  he  carried  out  for  him.  Has  this 
fine  Marquis  any  means  of  livelihood  ?  " 

"  Certainly ;  about  sixty  thousand  francs  a  year." 

"  Humbug !    What  did  he  mean  by  addressing  you 

secretly?    Only  to  compromise  your  name,   and   so 


THE   HONOR   OF   THE   NAME         103 

to  secure  your  fortune,  and  perhaps  to  break  off  your 
marriage  with  another." 

"  But  why  suppose  this  ?  " 

"  I  suppose  nothing ;  I  am  merely  going  upon 
facts.  What  does  a  man  of  honor  do  when  he  falls 
in  love?  " 

"My  dear  father " 

"  He  goes  to  his  solicitor,  acquaints  him  with  his 
intentions,  and  explains  what  his  means  are ;  the  solic- 
itor goes  to  the  family  solicitor  of  the  young  lady, 
and  when  these  men  of  the  law  have  found  out  that 
all  is  satisfactory,  then  love  is  permitted  to  make 
his  appearance  upon  the  scene.  And  now  you  may 
as  well  attend  to  me.  Forget  De  Croisenois  as 
soon  as  you  can,  for  I  have  chosen  a  husband  for 
you,  and,  having  pledged  my  word  of  honor,  I  will 
abide  by  it.  On  Sunday  the  eligible  suitor  will  be 
introduced  to  you,  and  on  Monday  we  will  visit  the 
Bishop,  asking  him  to  be  good  enough  to  perform  the 
ceremony.  On  Tuesday  you  will  show  yourself  in 
public  with  him,  in  order  to  announce  the  betrothal. 
Wednesday  the  marriage  contract  will  be  read.  Thurs- 
day a  grand  dinner-party.  Friday  an  exhibition  of 
the  marriage  presents ;  Saturday  a  day  of  rest ;  Sun- 
day the  publication  of  the  banns,  and  at  the  end  of  the 
following  week  the  marriage  will  take  place." 

Mademoiselle  Marie  listened  to  her  father's  deter- 
mination with  intense  horror. 

"  For  pity's  sake,  my  dear  father,  be  serious,"  cried 
she. 

M.  de  Puymandour  paid  no  attention  to  her  en- 
treaty, but  added,  as  an  afterthought : 

"  Perhaps  you  would  wish  to  know  the  name  of  the 
gentleman  I  have  selected  as  a  husband  for  you.    He 


I04         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

is  the  Marquis  Norbert,  the  son  and  heir  of  the  Duke 
de  Champdoce." 

Marie  turned  deadly  pale. 

"  But  I  do  not  know  him ;  I  have  never  seen  him," 
faltered  she. 

"I  know  him,  and  that  is  quite  sufficient.  I  have 
often  told  you  that  you  should  be  a  duchess,  and  I 
mean  to  keep  my  word." 

Marie's  affection  for  George  de  Croisenois  was 
much  deeper  than  she  had  told  her  father,  much 
deeper  even  than  she  had  dared  to  confess  to  her- 
self, and  she  resented  this  disposal  of  her  with  more 
obstinacy  than  any  one  knowing  her  gentle  nature 
would  have  supposed  her  capable  of;  but  M.  de  Puy- 
mandour  was  not  the  man  to  give  up  for  an  instant 
the  object  which  he  had  sworn  to  attain.  He  never 
gave  his  daughter  an  instant's  peace,  he  argued,  in- 
sisted, and  bullied  until,  after  three  days'  contest, 
Marie  gave  her  assent  with  a  flood  of  tears.  The 
word  had  scarcely  passed  her  lips,  before  her  father, 
without  even  thanking  her  for  her  terrible  sacr'uce, 
exclaimed  in  a  voice  of  triumph: 

"  I  must  take  these  tidings  to  Qiampdoce  without 
a  moment's  delay," 

He  started  at  once,  and  as  he  passed  through  the 
doorway  said: 

"  Good-by,  my  little  duchess,  good-by." 

He  was  most  desirous  of  seeing  the  Duke,  for, 
on  taking  leave  of  him,  the  old  nobleman  had  said, 
"  You  shall  hear  from  me  to-morrow" ;  but  no  letter 
had  as  yet  reached  him  from  Champdoce.  This  de- 
lay, however,  had  suited  M.  de  Puymandour's  plans, 
for  it  had  enabled  him  to  wring  the  consent  from  his 
daughter;  but  now  that  this  had  been  done,  he  began 


THE   HONOR   OF   THE   NAME         105 

to  feel  very  anxious,  and  to  fear  that  there  might  be 
some  unforeseen  hitch  in  the  affair. 

When  he  reached  Bevron,  he  saw  Daumon  talking 
earnestly  with  Frangoise,  the  daughter  of  the  Widow 
Rouleau.  M.  de  Puymandour  bowed  graciously,  and 
stopped  to  talk  with  the  man,  for  he  was  just  now 
seeking  for  popularity,  as  he  was  a  candidate,  and 
the  elections  would  shortly  take  place;  and,  besides, 
he  never  failed  to  talk  to  persons  who  exercised  any 
degree  of  influence,  and  he  knew  that  Daumon  was 
a  most  useful  man  in  electioneering. 

"  Good  morning.  Counsellor,"  said  he  gayly. 
"  What  is  the  news  to-day  ?  " 

Daumon  bowed  profoundly. 

'*  Bad  news,  Count,"  answered  he.  "  I  hear  that 
the  Duke  de  Champdoce  is  seriously  indisposed." 

"  The  Duke  ill — impossible !  " 

"  This  girl  has  just  given  me  the  information.  Tell 
us  all  about  it,  Frangoise." 

"  I  heard  to-day  at  the  Chateau  that  the  doctors 
had  quite  given  him  over." 

**  But  what  is  the  matter  with  him  ?  " 

•*  I  did  not  hear." 

M.  de  Puymandour  stood  perfectly  aghast. 

**  It  is  always  the  way  in  this  world,"  Daumon 
philosophically  said.  "  In  the  midst  oi  life  we  are 
in  death ! " 

"  Good  morning,  Counsellor/'  said  De  Puymandour ; 
"  I  must  try  and  find  out  something  more  about  this." 

Breathless,  and  with  his  mind  filled  with  anxiety, 
he  hurried  on. 

All  the  servants  and  laborers  on  the  Champdoce  es- 
tate were  gathered  together  in  a  group,  talking  eagerly 
to  each  other,  and  as  soon  as  M,  de  Puyrnandour 


io6         THE    CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

appeared,  one  of  the  servants,  disengaging  himself 
from  his  fellows,  came  towards  him.  This  was  the 
Duke's  old,  trustworthy  servant. 

"Well?"  exclaimed  M.  de  Puymandour. 

"  Oh,  sir,"  cried  the  old  man,  "  this  is  too  horrible ; 
my  poor  master  will  certainly  die." 

"  But  I  do  not  know  what  is  the  matter  with  him ; 
no  one  has  told  me  anything,  in  fact." 

"  It  was  terribly  sudden,"  answered  the  man.  "  It 
was  about  this  time  the  day  before  yesterday  that  the 
Duke  was  alone  with  M.  Norbert  in  the  dining-room. 
All  at  once  we  heard  a  great  outcry.  We  ran  in  and 
saw  my  poor  master  lying  senseless  on  the  ground,  his 
face  purple  and  distorted." 

"  He  must  have  had  a  fit  of  apoplexy." 

"  Not  exactly ;  the  doctor  called  it  a  rush  of  blood 
to  the  brain ;  at  least,  I  think  that  is  what  he  said,  and 
he  added  that  the  reason  he  did  not  die  on  the  spot 
was  because  in  falling  he  had  cut  open  his  head  against 
the  oaken  sideboard,  and  the  wound  bled  profusely. 
We  carried  him  up  to  his  bed ;  he  showed  no  signs  of 
life,  and  now " 

"  Well,  how  is  he  now  ?  " 

"  No  one  dare  give  an  opinion ;  my  poor  master  is 
quite  unconscious,  and  should  he  recover — and  I  do 
not  think  for  a  moment  that  he  will — the  doctor  says 
his  mind  will  have  entirely  gone." 

"  Horrible !  too  horrible !  and  a  man  of  such  intel- 
lectual power,  too.  I  shall  not  ask  you  to  let  me 
look  at  him,  for  I  could  do  no  good,  and  the  sight 
would  upset  me.    But  can  I  not  see  M.  Norbert?" 

"  Pray,  do  not  attempt  to  do  so,  sir." 

"  I  was  his  father's  intimate  friend,  and  if  the  con- 


THE    HONOR   OF   THE    NAME         107 

dolences  of  such  a  one  could  assuage  the  affliction 
under  which " 

"  Impossible ! "  answered  the  man  in  a  quick,  eager 
manner.  "  M.  Norbert  was  with  his  father  at  the 
time  of  his  seizure,  and  has  given  strict  orders  that 
he  is  not  to  be  disturbed  on  any  account;  but  I  must 
go  to  him  at  once,  for  we  are  expecting  the  physicians 
who  are  coming  from  Poitiers." 

"  Very  well,  then  I  will  go  now,  but  to-night  I  will 
send  up  one  of  my  people  for  news." 

With  these  words,  M.  de  Puymandour  walked 
slowly  away,  absorbed  in  thought.  The  manner  and 
expression  of  the  servant  had  struck  him  as  ex- 
tremely strange.  He  noted  the  fact  that  Norbert  was 
alone  with  his  father  at  the  time  of  the  seizure,  and, 
recalling  to  mind  the  opposition  he  had  met  with  from 
his  daughter,  he  began  to  imagine  that  the  Duke  had 
found  his  son  rebellious,  and  that  the  apoplectic  fit 
had  been  brought  on  by  a  sudden  access  of  passion. 
Interest  and  ambition  working  together  brought  him 
singularly  near  the  truth. 

"  If  the  Duke  dies,  or  becomes  a  maniac,"  thought 
he  to  himself,  "  the  end  as  regards  us  will  be  the 
same,  for  Norbert  will  break  off  the  match  to  a  cer- 
tainty." 

He  felt  that  such  a  proceeding  would  cause  him 
to  be  more  jeered  at  and  ridiculed  than  ever,  and  that 
the  only  path  of  escape  left  open  to  him  was  to  marry 
his  daughter  to  the  Marquis  de  Croisenois,  which 
was  a  most  desirable  alliance,  in  spite  of  all  he  had 
said  against  it.  A  voice  close  to  his  ear  aroused 
him  from  his  reflections :  it  was  that  of  Daumon,  who 
had  come  up  unperceived. 


io8         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

"  Was  the  girl's  information  correct,  Count?  "  asked 
he.  "  How  are  the  Duke  and  M.  Norbert,  for  of 
course  you  have  seen  them  both  ? " 

"  M.  Norbert  is  too  much  agitated  by  the  sad 
event  to  see  any  one." 

"  Of  course  that  was  to  be  looked  for,"  returned 
the  wily  Counsellor ;  "  for  the  seizure  was  terribly 
sudden." 

M.  de  Puymandour  was  too  much  occupied  with 
his  own  thoughts  to  spare  much  pity  for  Norbert. 
He  would  have  given  a  great  deal  to  have  known 
what  the  young  man  was  doing,  and  especially  what 
lie  was  thinking  of  at  the  present  moment. 

The  poor  lad  was  standing  by  the  bedside  of  his 
dying  father,  watching  eagerly  for  some  indication, 
however  slight,  of  returning  life  or  reason.  The 
hours  of  horror  and  self-reproach  had  entirely 
changed  his  feelings  and  ideas ;  for  it  was  only  at  the 
instant  when  he  saw  his  father  raise  the  poisoned 
wine  to  his  lips  that  he  saw  his  crime  in  all  its  hideous 
enormity.  His  soul  rose  up  in  rebellion  against  his 
crime,  and  the  words,  "  Parricide !  murderer ! " 
seemed  to  ring  in  his  ears  like  a  trumpet  call.  When 
his  father  fell  to  the  ground,  his  instinct  made  him 
shout  for  aid;  but  an  instant  afterwards  terror  took 
possession  of  him,  and,  rushing  from  the  house,  he 
sought  the  open  country,  as  though  striving  to  escape 
from  himself. 

Jean,  the  old  servant,  who  had  noticed  Norbert's 
strange  look,  was  seized  with  a  terrible  fear.  Trusted 
as  he  was  by  both  the  Duke  and  his  son,  he  had  many 
means  of  knowing  all  that  was  going  on  in  the  house- 
hold, and  was  no  stranger  to  the  differences  that  had 
arisen   recently  between   father  and   son.     He  knew 


THE   HONOR   OF   THE   NAME         109 

how  violent  the  tempers  of  both  were,  and  he  also 
knew  that  some  woman  was  urging  on  Norbert  to  a 
course  of  open  rebellion.  He  had  seen  the  cruel  blow 
dealt  by  the  Duke,  and  had  wondered  greatly  when 
he  saw  Norbert  return  to  the  Chateau.  Why  had 
he  done  so  ?  He  had  been  in  the  courtyard  when  Nor- 
bert threw  the  glass  from  the  window.  Putting  all 
these  circumstances  together,  as  soon  as  the  inani- 
mate body  of  the  Duke  had  been  laid  upon  a  bed, 
Jean  went  into  the  dining-room,  feeling  sure  that 
he  should  make  some  discovery  which  would  con- 
firm his  suspicions.  The  bottle  from  which  the  Duke 
had  filled  his  glass  stood  half  emptied  upon  the  table. 
With  the  greatest  care,  he  poured  a  few  drops  of  its 
contents  into  the  hollow  of  his  hand,  and  tasted  it 
with  the  utmost  caution.  The  wine  still  retained  its 
customary  taste  and  scent.  Not  trusting,  however, 
to  this,  Jean,  after  making  sure  that  he  was  not  ob- 
served, carried  the  bottle  to  his  own  room,  and  con- 
cealed it.  After  taking  this  precaution,  he  ordered 
one  of  the  other  servants  to  remain  by  the  side  of 
the  Duke  until  the  arrival  of  the  doctor,  and  then 
went  in  search  of  Norbert. 

For  two  hours  his  efforts  were  fruitless.  Giving 
up  his  search  in  despair,  he  turned  once  more  to 
regain  the  Chateau,  and,  taking  the  path  through 
the  wood,  suddenly  perceived  a  human  form  stretched 
on  the  turf  beneath  a  tree.  He  moved  cautiously 
towards  the  figure,  and  at  once  recognized  Norbert. 
The  faithful  servant  bent  over  his  young  master,  and 
shook  him  by  the  arm  to  arouse  him  from  his  state 
of  stupor.  At  the  first  touch,  Norbert  started  to  his 
feet  with  a  shriek  of  terror.  With  mingled  fear  and 
pity,  Jean  noticed  the  look  that  shone  in  the  young 


no         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

man's  eyes,  more  like  that  of  some  hunted  animal 
than  a  human  being. 

"Do  not  be  alarmed,  M.  Norbert;  it  is  only  I," 
said  he. 

"And  what  do  you  want?" 

"  I  came  out  to  look  for  you,  and  to  entreat  you 
to  come  back  with  me  to  Champdoce." 

"  Back  to  Champdoce  ?  "  repeated  Norbert  hoarsely  ; 
"  no,  never !  " 

"  You  must,  Master  Norbert ;  for  your  absence 
now  would  cause  a  terrible  scandal.  Your  place  at 
this  critical  time  is  by  the  bedside  of  your  father." 

"  Never !  never !  "  repeated  the  poor  boy ;  but  he 
yielded  passively  when  Jean  passed  his  arm  through 
his,  and  led  him  away  towards  the  Chateau.  Sup- 
ported thus  by  the  old  man's  arm,  he  crossed  the 
courtyard,  and  ascended  the  staircase ;  but  at  his 
father's  door  he  withdrew  his  hand,  and  struggled 
to  get  away. 

"  I  will  not ;  no,  no,  I  cannot,"  gasped  he, 

"  You  must  and  you  shall,"  returned  the  old  man 
firmly.  "  Whatever  your  feelings  may  be,  no  stain 
shall  rest  on  the  family  honor." 

These  words  roused  Norbert;  he  stepped  across  the 
room,  and  dropped  on  his  knees  by  the  bed,  placing 
his  forehead  upon  his  father's  icy  hand.  He  burst 
into  a  passion  of  tears  and  sobs,  and  the  simple 
peasants,  who  surrounded  the  couch  of  the  insensible 
nobleman,  breathed  a  sigh ;  for,  from  his  pallid  face 
and  burning  eyes,  they  believed  he  must  be  mad.  They 
were  not  far  out  in  this  surmise;  but  the  tears  re- 
lieved his  over-wrought  brain,  and  with  this  relief 
came  the  sense  of  intense  suffering.     When  the  phy- 


THE   HONOR   OF   THE   NAME         iii 

sician  arrived,  he  was  able  to  appear  before  him 
merely  as  a  deeply  anxious  son. 

"  There  is  no  hope  for  the  Duke,  I  regret  to  say," 
said  the  medical  man,  who  felt  that  it  was  useless 
to  keep  Norbert  in  suspense.  "  There  is  a  feeble 
chance  of  saving  his  life;  but  even  should  we  suc- 
ceed in  doing  so,  his  intellect  will  be  irretrievably 
gone.  This  is  a  sad  truth,  but  I  feel  it  my  duty  to 
inform  you  of  it.     I  will  come  again  to-morrow." 

As  the  doctor  left  the  room,  Norbert  threw  himself 
into  a  chair,  and  clasped  his  hands  round  his  head, 
which  throbbed  until  it  seemed  as  if  it  would  burst. 
For  more  than  half  an  hour  he  sat  motionless,  and 
then  started  to  his  feet  with  a  stifled  cry;  for  he  re- 
membered the  bottle  into  which  he  had  poured  the 
poison,  and  which  had  been  left  on  the  table.  Had 
any  one  drunk  from  it?  What  had  become  of  it? 
The  agony  of  his  mind  gave  him  the  necessary 
strength  to  descend  to  the  dining-room ;  but  the  bottle 
was  not  on  the  table,  nor  was  it  in  its  customary  place 
in  the  cupboard.  The  unhappy  boy  was  looking  for 
it  everywhere,  when  the  door  silently  opened,  and 
Jean  appeared  on  the  threshold.  The  expression 
upon  his  young  master's  face  so  startled  the  faithful 
old  man  that  he  nearly  dropped  the  lighted  candle 
that  he  carried  in  his  hand. 

"  Why  are  you  here.  Master  Norbert  ?  "  asked  he 
in  a  voice  that  trembled  with  emotion. 

"  I  was  looking  for I  wanted  to  find ," 

faltered  Norbert. 

Jean's  suspicions  at  once  became  certainties;  he 
walked  up  to  his  young  master,  and  whispered  in  his 
ear. — 


112         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

"  You  are  looking  for  the  Duke's  bottle  of  wine, 
are  you  not?  It  is  quite  safe;  for  I  have  taken  it 
to  my  room.  To-morrow  the  contents  shall  be  emp- 
tied away,  and  there  will  be  no  proof  existing." 

Jean  spoke  in  such  a  low  voice  that  Norbert  guessed 
rather  than  heard  his  words,  and  yet  it  seemed  that 
the  accusing  whisper  resounded  like  thunder  through 
the  Chateau,  filling  the  old  house  from  cellar  to  roof- 
tree. 

"  Be  quiet,"  said  he,  laying  his  hand  on  the  old 
man's  lips,  and  gazing  around  him  with  wild  and 
affrighted  glances. 

A  more  complete  confession  could  hardly  have 
been  made. 

"  Fear  nothing,  Master  Norbert,"  answered  Jean ; 
"  we  are  quite  alone.  I  know  that  there  are  words 
which  should  never  be  even  breathed ;  and  if  I  have 
ventured  to  speak,  it  was  because  it  was  my  duty  to 
warn  you,  and  to  inculcate  on  you  the  necessity  of 
caution." 

Norbert  was  filled  with  horror  when  he  saw  that 
the  old  man  believed  him  to  be  really  guilty. 

"  Jean,"  cried  he,  "  you  are  wrong  in  your  sus- 
picions. I  tell  you  that  my  father  never  tasted  that 
wine.  I  snatched  the  glass  from  him  before  his  lips 
had  touched  it.  I  flung  it  out  into  the  courtyard, 
and,  if  you  search,  you  will  find  its  scattered  frag- 
ments there  still." 

"  I  am  not  sitting  in  judgment  upon  you ;  what 
you  tell  me  to  believe  I  am  ready  to  accept." 

"  Ah ;  "  cried  Norbert  passionately,  "  he  does  not 
believe  me ;  he  thinks  that  I  am  guilty.  I  swear  to 
you  by  all  that  I  hold  most  sacred  in  this  world,  that 
I  am  innocent  of  this  deed." 


THE   HONOR   OF   THE   NAME         113 

The  attached  servant  shook  his  head  with  a  melan- 
choly air. 

"  Of  course,  of  course,"  said  he ;  "  but  it  is  for  us 
two  to  save  the  honor  of  the  house  of  Champdoce. 
Should  it  happen  that  any  suspicions  should  be 
aroused,  put  all  the  guilt  upon  my  shoulders.  I  will 
defend  myself  in  a  manner  which  will  only  fix  the 
crime  more  firmly  upon  me.  I  will  not  throw  away 
the  bottle,  but  will  retain  it  in  my  room,  so  that  it 
may  be  found  there,  and  its  contents  will  be  a  dam- 
natory evidence  against  me.  What  matters  it  how 
a  poor  man  like  me  is  sent  out  of  the  world?  but  with 
you  it  is  different.     You " 

Norbert  wrung  his  hands  in  abject  despair;  the 
sublime  devotion  of  the  old  servant  showed  how  firmly 
Jean  believed  in  his  criminality.  He  was  about  to 
assert  his  innocence  further,  when  the  loud  sound 
of  a  closing  door  was  heard  above  stairs. 

"  Hush ! "  said  the  old  man ;  "  some  one  ap- 
proaches; we  must  not  be  seen  whispering  together 
like  two  plotters,  for  their  suspicions  would  be  cer- 
tainly awakened;  and  I  fear  that  my  face  or  your 
eyes  will  reveal  the  secret.  Quick,  go  upstairs,  and 
endeavor,  as  soon  as  possible,  to  resume  your  calm- 
ness. I  beg  you  not  to  compromise  the  honor  of 
your  name,  which  is  in  deadly  peril." 

Without  another  word  Norbert  obeyed.  His 
father  was  alone,  and  only  the  man  to  whom  Jean 
had  delegated  the  task  of  watcher  remained  by  his 
bedside.     At  the  sight  of  his  young  master  he  rose. 

"  The  prescription  which  the  doctor  ordered  to  be 
made  up  has  arrived,"  said  he.  "  I  have  adminis- 
tered a  dose  to  the  Duke,  and  it  seems  to  me  that  the 
result  has  been  favorable." 


114         THE   CHATVIPDOCE   MYSTERY 

Norbert  drew  up  a  heavy  arm-chair  to  the  foot 
of  the  bed,  and  took  his  seat  upon  it.  From  this  posi- 
tion he  could  see  his  father's  face.  His  bfain  was 
dazed,  and  it  was  with  the  utmost  difficulty  that  he 
could  recall  the  chain  of  events  which  had  drawn 
him  towards  the  abyss  into  which  he  had  so  nearly 
been  precipitated. 

The  veil  had  been  taken  from  his  eyes,  and  he  now 
saw  with  perfect  clearness  and  seemed  again  to  hear 
his  father's  voice  as  it  roughly  warned  him  that  the 
woman  he  loved  was  a  mere  plotter,  who  cared  not 
for  him,  but  was  scheming  for  his  fortune  and  his 
name.  Then  he  had  been  furiously  indignant  and 
looked  upon  the  words  as  almost  blasphemous,  but 
now  he  saw  that  his  father  was  right.  How  was 
it  that  he  had  not  before  seen  that  Diana  was  fling- 
ing herself  in  his  way,  and  that  all  her  affected  open- 
ness and  simplicity  were  merely  the  perfections  of 
art,  and  that  step  by  step  she  had  led  him  to  the  brink 
of  the  terrible  precipice  which  yawned  before  him? 
The  whole  hideous  part  as  played  by  Daumon  was 
no  longer  a  sealed  book  to  him.  She  whom  he  had 
looked  on  as  a  pure  and  innocent  girl  was  merely 
the  accomplice  of  a  scheming  villain  like  the  Cotm- 
sellor,  and  after  exciting  his  hatred  and  anger  almost 
to  madness,  had  placed  the  poison  which  was  to  take 
his  father's  life  in  his  hands.  A  cold  shiver  ran 
through  him  as  he  realized  this,  and  all  his  ardent 
love  for  Diana  de  Laurebourg  was  changed  into  a 
feeling  of  loathing  and  disgust. 

At  last  the  first  pale  rays  of  dawn  broke  through 
the  casement,  but  before  that  Norbert,  worn  out  with 
conflicting  emotions,  had  fallen  into  a  restless  and 
uneasy  sleep,  and  when  he  awoke  the  doctor  was 


THE   HONOR   OF   THE   NAME         115 

standing  by  the  bedside  of  the  sick  man.  At  the  first 
sound  made  by  Norbert  as  he  stirred  in  the  chair, 
the  doctor  came  towards  him,  saying,  "  We  shall 
preserve  his  life." 

This  prognostication  was  complete,  for  that  very 
evening  the  Duke  de  Champdoce  was  able  to  move 
in  his  bed,  the  next  day  he  uttered  some  incoherent 
words,  and  later  on  asked  for  food;  but  the  will  of 
iron  had  passed  away,  the  features  had  lost  their  ex- 
pression of  determination,  and  the  eye  the  glitter  of 
pride  and  power.  Never  again  would  the  Duke  be 
able  to  exert  that  keen,  stern  intellect  which  had 
enabled  him  to  influence  all  those  around  him ;  and 
in  this  terrible  state  of  imbecility  the  haughty  noble- 
man would  ever  remain,  fed  and  looked  after  like 
a  child,  with  no  thought  beyond  his  desires  and  his 
warm  fire,  and  without  a  care  for  anything  that  was 
going  on  in  the  world  around  him. 

After  the  enormity  of  his  crime  had  been  brought 
before  him,  the  greatness  of  the  punishment  that  he 
must  endure  now  came  across  Norbert's  mind.  It 
was  only  now  that  Jean  had  ventured  to  tell  him 
of  M.  de  Puymandour's  visit ;  and  such  a  change  had 
taken  place  in  Norbert  that  he  looked  upon  this  visit 
as  a  special  arrangement  made  by  Providence. 

"  My  father's  will  shall  be  carried  out  in  every 
respect,"  said  he  to  himself,  and  without  an  hour's 
delay  he  wrote  to  M.  du  Puymandour,  begging  him 
to  call,  and  hoping  that  the  grief  which  had  fallen 
upon  him  had  in  no  way  altered  the  plan  which  had 
already  been  arranged. 


ii6         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 


CHAPTER   X. 

A  THUNDERBOLT. 

As  the  miner,  who  sets  fire  to  the  fuse  and  seeks 
shelter  from  the  coming  explosion,  so  did  Diana  de 
Laurebourg  return  to  her  father's  house  after  her 
visit  to  Daumon.  During  dinner  it  was  impossible 
for  her  to  utter  a  word,  and  it  was  with  the  greatest 
difficulty  that  she  succeeded  in  swallowing  a  mouth- 
ful. Fortunately  neither  her  father  nor  mother  took 
any  notice  of  her.  They  had  that  day  received  a 
letter  announcing  the  news  that  their  son,  for  whose 
future  prosperity  they  had  sacrificed  Diana,  was  lying 
dangerously  ill  in  Paris,  where  he  was  living  in  great 
style.  They  were  in  terrible  affliction,  and  spoke  of 
starting  at  once,  so  as  to  be  with  him.  They  there- 
fore expressed  no  surprise  when,  on  leaving  the  table, 
Diana  pleaded  a  severe  headache  as  an  excuse  for 
retiring  to  her  own  room.  When  once  she  was 
alone,  having  dismissed  her  maid,  she  heaved  a  deep 
sigh  of  relief.  She  never  thought  of  retiring  to  bed, 
but  throwing  open  her  window,  leaned  out  with  her 
elbow  on  the  window-sill. 

It  seemed  to  her  that  Norbert  would  certainly  make 
some  effort  to  see  her,  or  at  any  rate  by  some  means 
to  let  her  know  whether  he  had  succeeded  or  failed. 

"  But  I  must  be  patient,"  murmured  she,  "  for  I 
can't  hear  anything  until  the  afternoon  of  to-morrow." 

In  spite,  however,  of  her  resolutions,  patience  fled 
from  her  mind,  and  as  soon  as  the  servants  had  be- 
gun moving  about,  she  went  out  into  the  garden  and 
took  up  a  position  which  commanded  a  view  of  the 


A   THUNDERBOLT  117 

highroad,  but  no  one  appeared.  The  bell  rang  for 
breakfast.  Again  she  had  to  seat  herself  at  table 
with  her  parents,  and  the  terrible  penance  of  the  past 
evening  had  to  be  repeated.  At  three  o'clock  she 
could  endure  the  suspense  no  longer,  and  making  her 
escape  from  the  Chateau,  she  went  over  to  Daumon, 
who,  she  felt,  must  have  obtained  some  intelligence. 
Even  if  she  found  that  he  knew  nothing,  it  would  be 
a  relief  to  speak  to  him  and  to  ask  him  when  he 
thought  that  this  terrible  delay  would  come  to  an  end. 
But  she  got  no  comfort  at  Daumon's,  for  he  had 
passed  as  miserable  a  night  as  herself,  and  was  nearly 
dead  with  affright.  He  had  remained  in  his  office 
all  the  morning,  starting  at  the  slightest  sound,  and 
though  he  was  as  anxious  as  Diana  for  information, 
he  had  only  gone  out  a  little  before  her  arrival.  He 
met  Mademoiselle  Laurebourg  on  his  return  at  the 
door  of  his  cottage,  and  taking  her  inside,  he  informed 
her  that  at  a  late  hour  the  night  before  the  doctor 
had  been  sent  for  to  Champdoce  to  attend  on  the  Duke, 
who  was  supposed  to  be  dying.  Then  he  reproved 
her  bitterly  for  her  imprudence  in  visiting  him. 

"  Do  you  wish,"  said  he,  "  to  show  all  Bevron  that 
you  and  I  are  Norbert's  accomplices?" 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  asked  she. 

"  I  mean  that  if  the  Duke  does  not  die,  we  are 
lost.  When  I  say  we,  I  mean  myself,  for  you,  as  the 
daughter  of  a  noble  family,  will  be  sure  to  escape 
scot  free,  and  I  shall  be  left  to  pay  for  all." 

"  You  said  that  the  effect  was  immediate." 

"  I  did  say  so,  and  I  thought  so  too.  Ah,  if  I  had 
but  reflected  a  little!  You  will  however  see  that  I 
do  not  intend  to  give  in  without  a  fight.  I  will  de- 
fend myself  by  accusing  you.     I  am  an  honest  man, 


ii8         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

and  have  been  your  dupe.  You  have  thought  to  make 
me  a  mere  tool;  your  fine  Norbert  is  a  fool,  but  he 
will  pay  for  his  doings  with  his  head  all  the  same." 

At  these  gross  insults  Mademoiselle  de  Laurebourg 
rose  to  her  feet  and  attempted  to  speak,  but  he  cut 
her  short. 

"  I  can't  stop  to  pick  and  choose  my  words,  for  I 
feel  at  the  present  moment  as  if  the  axe  of  the  guil- 
lotine were  suspended  over  my  head.  Now  just 
oblige  me  by  getting  out  of  this,  and  never  show  your 
face  here  again." 

"  As  you  like.  I  will  communicate  with  Champ- 
doce." 

"  You  shall  not,"  exclaimed  Daumon  with  a  ges- 
ture of  menace.  "  You  might  as  well  go  and  ask 
how  the  Duke  enjoyed  the  taste  of  the  poison." 

His  words,  however,  did  not  deter  Diana,  for  any 
risk  seemed  preferable  to  her  than  the  present  state 
of  suspense. 

With  a  glance  of  contempt  at  the  Counsellor  she 
left  the  cottage,  determined  to  act  as  she  thought 
fit. 

After  Diana's  departure,  Daumon  felt  too  that  he 
must  learn  how  matters  were  going  on,  and  going 
over  to  the  Widow  Rouleau's,  he  despatched  her 
daughter  Frangoise  to  the  Chateau  de  Champdoce, 
under  the  pretext  that  he  wanted  some  money  which 
he  had  lent  to  one  of  the  Duke's  servants.  He  had 
instructed  the  girl  so  cunningly  that  she  had  no  sus- 
picion of  the  real  end  and  object  of  her  mission,  and 
set  out  on  it  with  the  most  implicit  confidence.  He 
had  not  long  to  wait  for  her  return,  for  in  about  half 
an  hour  his  messenger  returned. 


A   THUNDERBOLT  119 

"  Well,"  said  he  anxiously,  "  has  the  scamp  sent 
my  money  ?  " 

"  No,  sir,  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  I  could  not  even 
get  to  speak  to  him." 

"How  was  that?    Was  he  not  at  Qiampdoce?" 

"  I  cannot  even  tell  you  that.  Ever  since  the  Duke 
has  been  ill,  the  great  gates  of  the  Chateau  have  been 
bolted,  for  it  seems  that  the  poor  old  gentleman  is 
at  his  last  gasp." 

"  Did  you  not  hear  what  was  the  matter  with  him  ?" 

"  No,  sir,  the  little  I  have  told  you  I  got  from  a 
stable  boy,  who  spoke  to  me  through  a  grating  in 
the  gate,  but  before  he  could  say  ten  words  Jean 
came  up  and  sent  him  off." 

"  Do  you  mean  Jean,  the  Duke's  confidential  man  ?  " 

"  Just  so,"  returned  the  girl,  "  and  very  angry  he 
was.  He  abused  the  lad  and  told  him  to  be  off  to 
the  stables,  and  then  asked,  *  Well,  my  girl,  and  pray 
what  do  you  want  ? '  I  told  him  that  I  had  come  with 
a  message  to  the  man  Mechenit;  but  before  I  could 
say  any  more  he  broke  in  with,  '  Well,  he  isn't  here, 
you  can  call  again  in  a  month.' " 

"  You  silly  little  fool,  was  that  all  you  said  ?  " 

"  Not  quite,  for  I  said  that  I  must  see  Mechenit. 
Then,  looking  at  me  very  suspiciously,  he  said,  '  And 
who  sent  you  here,  you  little  spy  ?  '  " 

The  Counsellor  started. 

"  Indeed !  and  what  did  you  say  in  return  ?  "  asked 
he. 

"  Why,  of  course  I  said  that  you  had  sent  me." 

"  Yes,  yes,  that  was  right." 

"  And  then  Jean  rubbed  his  hand  over  his  chin, 
and  looking  at  me  very  curiously,  said  sternly, — 


I20         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

" '  So  you  have  come  from  the  Counsellor,  have 
you?  Ah,  I  see  it  all,  and  so  shall  he  one  of  these 
days/  " 

At  these  words  Daumon  felt  his  knees  give  way 
under  him ;  but  all  further  questioning  was  stopped 
by  the  appearance  of  M.  de  Puymandour  on  his  way 
to  Champdoce.  He  therefore  dismissed  Frangoise, 
and  awaited  the  return  of  this  gentleman,  from  whom 
he  hoped  to  gain  the  fullest  information  regarding 
the  Duke's  malady.  The  intelligence  which  he  re- 
received  calmed  him  a  little,  and  repenting  of  his 
treatment  of  Diana,  he  went  and  hung  about  the 
gates  of  the  Chateau  de  Laurebourg,  until  he  was 
lucky  enough  to  catch  sight  of  the  girl  in  the  garden, 
for  her  anxiety  would  not  permit  her  to  remain 
in  the  house.     He  beckoned  to  her,  and  then  said, — 

"  M.  Norbert  did  not  make  the  dose  strong  enough. 
The  Duke  is  as  strong  as  a  horse;  but  it  is  all  right, 
for  should  he  live,  he  will  be  an  idiot,  and  so  our 
end  is  as  much  gained  as  if  he  had  died." 

"  But  why  does  not  Norbert  write  to  me  ?  "  asked 
Diana  seriously. 

"  Why,  because  he  has  some  faint  glimmerings  of 
common  sense.  How  do  you  know  that  he  may  not 
have  half  a  dozen  spies  about  him?    You  must  wait." 

Diana  and  the  Counsellor  waited  for  a  week,  but 
Norbert  made  no  sign.  Diana  suffered  agonies,  and 
the  days  seemed  to  pass  with  leaden  feet.  Sunday 
came  at  last.  The  Marchioness  de  Laurebourg  had 
attended  early  Mass,  and  had  given  orders  that  her 
daughter  should  go  to  high  Mass  under  the  escort 
of  her  maid.  Diana  was  highly  pleased  with  this  ar- 
rangement, for  she  hoped  to  have  a  chance  of  seeing 
Norbert,  but  she  was  disappointed.     The  Mass  had 


A   THUNDERBOLT  121 

commenced  when  she  entered,  but  the  spot  occupied 
by  the  Duke  and  his  son  was  vacant.  She  followed 
the  service  in  a  purely  mechanical  manner,  and  at  last 
noticed  that  the  priest  had  taken  his  place  in  the 
pulpit. 

This  was  generally  an  exciting-  moment  for  the  in- 
habitants of  Bevron,  for  it  was  immediately  before 
the  sermon  that  the  banns  of  marriage  were  pub- 
lished. The  priest  gazed  blandly  down  upon  the  ex- 
pectant crowd,  coughed  slightly,  used  his  handker- 
chief, and  finally  took  from  his  breviary  a  sheet  of 
paper. 

"  I  have,"  said  he,  "  to  publish  the  banns  of  mar- 
riage between "  here  he  made  a  little  pause,  and 

all  the  congregation  were  on  the  tenterhooks  of  ex- 
pectation ;  "  between,"  he  continued,  "  Monsieur  Louis 
Norbert,  Marquis  de  Champdoce,  a  minor,  and  only 
legitimate  son  of  Guillaume  Caesar,  Duke  de  Champ- 
doce, and  of  his  wife,  Isabella  de  Barnaville,  now 
deceased,  but  who  both  formerly  resided  in  this  par- 
ish, and  Desiree  Anne  Marie  Palouzet,  minor,  and 
legitimate  daughter  of  Rene  Augustus  Palouzet, 
Count  de  Puymandour,  and  of  Zoe  Staplet,  his  wife, 
but  now  deceased,  also  residents  of  this  parish." 

This  was  the  thunderbolt  launched  from  the  pul- 
pit, which  seemed  to  crush  Diana  into  the  earth,  and 
her  heart  almost  ceased  to  beat. 

"  Let  any  one,"  continued  the  priest,  "  who  knows 
of  any  impediment  to  this  marriage,  take  warning 
that  he  or  she  must  acquaint  us  with  it,  under  the 
penalty  of  excommunication.  And  at  the  same  time 
let  him  be  warned  under  the  same  penalty  to  bring 
forward  nothing  in  malice  or  without  some  founda- 
tion." 


122         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

An  impediment !  What  irony  lay  veiled  beneath 
that  word.  Mademoiselle  de  Laurebourg  knew  of 
more  than  one.  A  wild  desire  filled  her  heart  to 
start  from  her  seat  and  cry  out, — 

"  It  is  impossible  for  this  marriage  to  take  place, 
for  that  Norbert  was  her  affianced  husband  in  the 
sight  of  Heaven,  and  that  he  was  bound  to  her  by  the 
strongest  of  all  links,  that  of  crime." 

But  by  a  gigantic  effort  she  controlled  herself,  and 
remained  motionless,  pallid  as  a  spectre,  but  with  a 
forced  smile  on  her  lips,  and  with  unparalleled  au- 
dacity made  a  little  sign  to  one  of  her  female  friends, 
which  plainly  meant,  "  This  is,  indeed,  something 
unexpected."  All  her  mind  was  concentrated  to  pre- 
serve a  calm  and  unmoved  aspect.  The  singing  of 
the  choir  seemed  to  die  away,  the  strong  odor  of  the 
incense  almost  overpowered  her,  and  she  felt  that 
imless  the  service  soon  came  to  an  end,  she  must 
fall  insensible  from  her  chair.  At  last  the  priest  turned 
again  to  the  congregation  and  droned  out  the  Ita 
missa  est,  and  all  was  over.  Diana  grasped  the  arm 
of  her  maid  and  forced  her  away,  without  saying  a 
word.  As  she  reached  home,  a  servant  ran  up  to  her 
with  a  face  upon  which  agitation  was  s"^rongly 
painted. 

"  Ah,  mademoiselle,"  gasped  he,  "  such  a  fright- 
ful calamity.  Your  father  and  mother  are  expect- 
ing you ;  it  is  really  too  terrible." 

Diana  hastened  to  obey  the  summons.  Her  father 
and  mother  were  seated  near  each  other,  evidently  in 
deep  distress.  She  went  towards  them,  and  the  Mar- 
quis, drawing  her  to  him,  pressed  her  against  his 
heart. 


A   THUNDERBOLT  123 

"  Poor  child !  my  dear  daughter !  "  murmured  he, 
"  you  are  all  that  is  left  to  us  now." 

Their  son  had  died,  and  the  sad  news  had  been 
brought  to  the  Chateau  while  Diana  was  at  Mass. 
By  her  brother's  death  she  had  succeeded  to  a  princely 
fortune,  and  would  now  be  one  of  the  richest  heir- 
esses for  many  a  mile  round.  Had  this  event  hap- 
pened but  a  week  before,  her  marriage  to  Norbert 
would  have  met  with  no  opposition  from  his  father, 
and  she  would  never  have  plunged  into  this  abyss  of 
crime.  It  was  more  than  the  irony  of  fate;  it  was 
the  manifest  punishment  of  an  angry  Divinity.  She 
shed  no  tear  for  her  brother's  death.  Her  thoughts 
were  all  firmly  fixed  on  Norbert,  and  that  fearful 
announcement  made  in  the  house  of  God  rang  still 
in  her  ears.  What  could  be  the  meaning  of  this 
sudden  arrangement,  and  why  had  the  marriage  been 
so  suddenly  decided  on  ? 

She  felt  that  some  mystery  lay  beneath  it  all,  and 
vowed  that  she  would  fathom  it  to  its  nethermost 
depths.  What  was  it  that  had  taken  place  at  Champ- 
doce?  Had  the  Duke,  contrary  to  Daumon's  prog- 
nostications, recovered?  Had  he  discovered  his  son's 
insidious  attack  upon  his  life,  and  only  pardoned  it 
upon  a  blind  compliance  being  given  to  his  will  ?  She 
passed  away  the  whole  day  in  these  vain  suppositions, 
and  tried  to  think  of  every  plan  to  stay  the  celebra- 
tion of  this  union,  for  she  had  not  given  up  her 
hopes,  nor  did  she  yet  despair  of  ultimate  success. 
Her  new  and  unlooked-for  fortune  placed  a  fresh 
weapon  at  her  disposal,  and  she  felt  that  the  victory 
would  yet  be  hers  if  she  could  but  see  Norbert  again, 
were  it  but  for  a  single  instant.     Was  she  not  cer- 


124         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

tain  of  the  absolute  power  that  she  exercised  ever 
him,  for  had  she  not  by  a  few  words  induced  him 
to  enter  upon  the  terrible  path  of  crime?  She  must 
see  him,  and  that  without  a  moment's  delay,  for  the 
danger  was  imminent.  A  day  now  would  be  worth 
a  year  hereafter.  She  determined  that,  upon  that  very 
night,  she  would  visit  Champdoce.  A  little  after 
midnight,  when  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  Chateau 
were  wrapped  in  slumber,  she  crept  on  tiptoe  down 
the  grand  staircase,  and  made  her  exit  by  a  side  door. 
She  had  arranged  her  plan  as  to  how  she  would 
find  Norbert,  for  he  had  often  described  the  interior 
arrangements  of  the  Chateau  to  her.  She  knew  that 
his  room  was  on  the  ground  floor,  with  two  windows 
looking  on  to  the  courtyard.  When,  however,  she 
reached  the  old  Chateau,  she  hesitated.  Suppose 
that  she  should  go  to  the  wrong  window.  But  she 
had  gone  too  far  to  recede,  and  determined  that  if 
any  one  else  than  Norbert  should  open  the  window, 
she  would  turn  and  fly.  She  tapped  at  the  window 
softly,  and  then  more  loudly.  She  had  made  no  mis- 
take. Norbert  threw  open  the  window,  with  the 
words, — 

"Who  is  there?" 

"  It  is  I,  Norbert ;  I,  Diana." 

"  What  do  you  want  ?  "  asked  Norbert  in  an  agi- 
tated tone  of  voice.    "  What  do  you  want  to  do  here  ?" 

She  looked  at  him  anxiously  and  hardly  recog- 
nized his  face,  so  great  was  the  change  that  had  come 
over  it.     It  absolutely  terrified  her. 

"  Are  you  going  to  marry  Mademoiselle  de  Puy- 
mandour  ?  "  asked  she. 

"  Yes  I  am." 

"  And  yet  you  pretended  to  love  me  ?  " 


A   THUNDERBOLT  125 

"  Yes,  I  loved  you  ardently,  devotedly,  with  a 
love  that  drove  me  to  crime;  but  you  had  no  love; 
you  cared  but  for  rank  and  fortune." 

Diana  raised  her  hands  to  heaven  in  an  agony  of 
despair. 

"  Should  I  be  here  at  this  hour  if  what  you  say 
is  true  ? "  asked  she  wildly.  "  My  brother  is  dead, 
and  I  am  as  wealthy  as  you  are,  Norbert,  and  yet  I 
am  here.  You  accuse  me  of  being  mercenary,  and 
for  what  reason?  Was  it  because  I  refused  to  fly 
with  you  from  my  father's  house?  Oh,  Norbert,  it 
was  but  the  happiness  of  our  future  life  that  I  strove 
to  protect.    It  was " 

Her  speech  failed  her,  and  her  eyes  dilated  with 
horror,  for  the  door  behind  Norbert  opened,  and  the 
Duke  de  Champdoce  entered  the  room,  uttering  a 
string  of  meaningless  words,  and  laughing  with  that 
mirthless  laugh  which  is  so  sure  a  sign  of  idiotcy. 

"  Can  you  understand  now,"  exclaimed  Norbert, 
pointing  to  his  father,  "  why  the  remembrance  of  my 
love  for  you  has  become  a  hateful  reminiscence?  Do 
you  dare  to  talk  of  happiness  to  me,  when  this  spectre 
of  a  meditated  crime  will  ever  rise  between  us  ?  "  and 
with  a  meaning  gesture  he  pointed  to  the  open  gate 
of  the  courtyard. 

She  turned;  but  before  passing  away,  she  cast  a 
glance  upon  him  full  of  the  deepest  fury  and  jealousy. 
She  could  not  forgive  Norbert  for  his  share  in  the 
crime  that  she  had  herself  prompted, — for  the  crime 
which  had  blighted  all  her  hopes  of  happiness.  Her 
farewell  was  a  menace. 

"  Norbert,"  she  said,  as  she  glided  through  the  gate 
like  a  spectre  of  the  night,  "  I  will  have  revenge,  and 
that  right  soon." 


126         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 
CHAPTER   XI. 

MARRIAGE  BELLS ;  FUNERAL   KNELLS. 

Three  days  of  hard  work  had  completed  all  the  ar- 
rangements necessary  for  the  marriage  of  Norbert 
and  Mademoiselle  de  Puymandour.  He  had  been 
presented  to  the  lady,  and  neither  had  received  a 
favorable  impression  of  the  other.  At  the  very  first 
glance  each  one  felt  that  inevitable  repugnance  which 
the  lapse  of  years  can  never  efface.  While  dreading 
the  anger  of  her  obdurate  father,  Marie  had  at  one 
time  thought  of  confiding  the  secret  of  her  attach- 
ment to  George  de  Croisenois  to  Norbert,  for  she 
had  the  idea  that  if  she  told  him  that  her  heart  was 
another's,  he  might  withdraw  his  pretensions  to  her 
hand;  but  several  times,  when  the  opportunity  oc- 
curred, fear  restrained  her  tongue,  and  she  let  the 
propitious  moment  pass  away.  Had  she  done  so, 
Norbert  would  at  once  have  eagerly  grasped  at  a  pre- 
text for  absolving  himself  from  a  promise  which  he 
had  made  mentally  of  obeying  in  all  things  a  father 
who  now,  alas!  had  no  means  of  enforcing  his  com- 
mands. 

Each  day  he  paid  his  visit  to  Puymandour  as  an 
accepted  suitor,  bearing  a  large  bouquet  with  him, 
which  he  regularly  presented  to  his  betrothed  upon 
his  entrance  into  the  drawing-room,  which  she  ac- 
cepted with  a  painful  flush  rising  to  her  cheek.  The 
pair  conversed  upon  indifferent  topics,  while  an  aged 
female  connection  sat  in  the  room  to  play  propriety. 
For  many  hours  they  would   remain  thus,   the  girl 


MARRIAGE  BELLS;  FUNERAL  KNELLS  127 

bending  over  her  fancy  work,  and  he  vainly  striving 
to  find  topics  of  conversation,  and,  consequently,  say- 
ing hardly  anything,  in  spite  of  Marie's  feeble  ef- 
forts to  assist  in  the  conversation.  It  was  a  slight 
relief  when  M.  de  Puymandour  proposed  a  walk ;  but 
this  was  a  rare  occurrence,  for  that  gentleman  usu- 
ally declared  that  he  never  had  a  moment's  leisure. 
Never  had  he  seemed  so  gay  and  busy  since  the  ap- 
proaching marriage  of  his  daughter  had  been  the 
theme  of  every  tongue.  He  took  all  the  preparations 
for  the  ceremony  into  his  own  hands,  for  he  had 
determined  that  everything  should  be  conducted  on  a 
scale  of  unparalleled  magnificence.  The  Chateau 
was  refurnished,  and  all  the  carriages  repainted  and 
varnished,  while  the  Champdoce  and  the  Puyman- 
dour arms  were  quartered  together  on  their  panels. 
This  coat  of  arms  was  to  be  seen  everywhere — over 
the  doors,  on  the  walls,  and  engraved  on  the  silver, 
and  it  was  believed  that  M.  de  Puymandour  would 
have  made  no  objection  to  their  being  branded  on 
his  breast. 

In  the  midst  of  all  this  turmoil  and  bustle  Norbert 
and  Marie  grew  sadder  and  sadder  as  each  day  passed 
on.  One  day  M.  de  Puymandour  heard  so  astound- 
ing a  piece  of  intelligence  that  he  hurried  into  the 
drawing-room,  where  he  knew  that  he  should  find 
the  lovers  (as  he  styled  them)  together. 

"  Well,  my  children,"  exclaimed  he,  "  you  have  set 
such  an  excellent  example,  that  everybody  seems  dis- 
posed to  copy  you,  and  the  mayor  and  the  priest  will 
be  kept  to  their  work  rather  tightly  this  year." 

His  daughter  tried  to  put  on  an  appearance  of  in- 
terest at  this  speech. 

"  Yes,"  continued  M.    de    Puymandour,  "  I    have 


128         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

just  heard  of  a  marriage  that  will  come  off  almost 
directly  after  yours  has  been  celebrated,  and  will  make 
a  stir,  I  can  assure  you." 

"  And  whose  is  that,  pray  ?  " 

"  You  are  acquainted,  I  presume,"  returned  her 
father,  addressing  himself  to  Norbert,  "  with  the  son 
of  the  Count  de  Mussidan  ?  " 

"  What,  the  Viscount  Octave  ?  " 

"The  same." 

"  He  lives  in  Paris,  does  he  not  ?  " 

"  Yes,  generally ;  but  he  has  been  staying  at  Mussi- 
dan, and  in  the  short  space  of  a  week  has  managed  to 
lose  his  heart  here;  and  to  whom  do  you  think? 
Come,  give  a  guess." 

"  We  cannot  think  who  it  can  be,  my  dear  father," 
said  Marie,  "  and  we  are  devoured  with  curiosity." 

"  It  is  reported  that  the  Viscount  de  Mussidan  has 
proposed  for  the  hand  of  Mademoiselle  de  Laure- 
bourg." 

"  Why,"  remarked  Marie,  "  it  is  only  three  weeks 
since  her  brother  died !  " 

Norbert  flushed  scarlet,  and  then  turned  a  livid 
white;  so  great  was  his  agitation  at  hearing  this 
news,  that  he  nearly  dropped  the  album  which  he 
held  in  his  hand. 

"  I  like  the  Viscount,"  continued  M.  de  Puyman- 
dour,  "  while  Mademoiselle  Diana  is  a  charming  girl. 
She  is  very  handsome,  and,  I  believe,  has  many  tal- 
ents ;  and  she  is  a  good  model  for  you  to  copy,  Marie, 
as  you  are  so  soon  to  become  a  duchess." 

When  he  got  upon  his  favorite  hobby,  it  was  very 
difficult  to  check  M.  de  Puymandour.  His  daughter, 
therefore,  waited  until  he  had  concluded,  and  then 
left  the  room,  under  the  pretext  of  giving  an  order 


MARRIAGE  BELLS;  FUNERAL  KNELLS  129 

to  the  servants.  The  Count  hardly  noticed  her  ab- 
sence, as  he  had  still  Norbert  at  his  mercy. 

"  Reverting  again  to  Mademoiselle  Diana,"  said  he  : 
"  she  looks  charming  in  black,  for  women  should  look 
upon  a  death  in  the  family  as  a  most  fortunate  occur- 
rence ;  but  I  ought  not  to  be  praising  her  to  you, 
who  are  so  well  acquainted  with  her." 

"  I  ?  "  exclaimed  Norbert. 

"  Yes,  you.  I  do  not  suppose  that  you  intend  to 
deny  that  you  have  had  a  little  flirtation  with  her  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  understand  you." 

"  Well,  /  do  then,  my  boy ;  I  heard  all  about  your 
making  love  to  her.  WHiy,  you  are  really  blushing! 
What  is  up  now  ?  " 

"  I  can  assure  you " 

De  Puymandour  burst  into  a  loud  laugh. 

"  I  have  heard  a  good  deal  of  your  little  country 
walks,  and  all  the  pretty  things  that  you  used  to  say 
to  each  other." 

In  vain  did  Norbert  deny  the  whole  thing,  for  his 
intended  father-in-law  would  not  believe  him;  and  at 
last  he  got  so  annoyed  that  he  refused  to  remain  and 
dine  with  the  Count,  alleging  anxiety  for  his  father 
as  an  excuse.  He  returned  home  as  soon  as  he  pos- 
sibly could,  much  agitated  by  what  he  had  heard; 
and  as  he  was  walking  rapidly  on,  he  heard  his  name 
called  by  some  one  who  was  running  after  him: 
Norbert  turned  round,  and  found  himself  face  to 
face  with  Montlouis. 

"  I  have  been  here  a  week,"  said  the  young  man. 
"  I  am  here  with  my  patron,  for  I  have  one  now. 
I  am  now  with  the  Viscount  de  Mussidan,  as  his 
private  secretary.  M.  Octave  is  not  the  most  agree- 
able man  in  the  world  to  get  on  with,  as  he  gets  into 


I30         THE    CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

the  most  violent  passions  on  very  trivial  occasions ; 
but  he  has  a  good  heart,  after  all,  and  I  am  very- 
pleased  with  the  position  I  have  gained." 

"  I  am  very  glad  to  hear  it,  Montlouis,  very  much 
pleased  indeed." 

"  And  you.  Marquis,  I  hear,  are  to  marry  Made- 
moiselle de  Puymandour;  I  could  scarcely  credit  the 
news." 

"And  why,  pray?" 

"  Because  I  remembered  when  we  used  to  wait  out- 
side a  certain  garden  wall,  until  we  saw  a  certain 
door  open  discreetly." 

"  But  you  must  efface  all  this  from  your  memory, 
Montlouis." 

"  Do  not  be  alarmed ;  save  to  you,  my  lips  would 
never  utter  a  word  of  this.  No  one  else  would  ever 
make  me  speak." 

"  Stop  1 "  said  Norbert,  with  an  angry  gesture. 
"  Do  you  venture  to  say " 

"To  say  what?" 

"  I  wish  you  to  understand  that  Mademoiselle 
Diana  is  as  free  from  blame  to-day  as  she  was  when 
first  I  met  her.  She  has  been  indiscreet,  but  nothing 
more,  I  swear  it  before  heaven ! " 

"  I  believe  you  perfectly." 

In .  reality  Montlouis  did  not  believe  one  word  of 
Norbert's  assertion,  and  the  young  Marquis  could 
read  this  in  his  companion's  face. 

"  The  more  so,"  continued  the  secretary,  "  as  the 
young  lady  is  about  to  be  married  to  my  friend  and 
patron." 

"  But  where,"  asked  Norbert,  "  did  the  Viscount 
meet  with  Mademoiselle  de  Laurebourg?" 

"  In  Paris ;  the  Viscount  and  her  brother  were  very 


MARRIAGE  BELLS;  FUNERAL  KNELLS  131 

intimate,  and  nursed  him  during  his  last  illness,  and 
as  soon  as  the  scheming  parents  heard  of  the  Vis- 
count being  in  the  neighborhood  they  asked  him  to 
call  on  them.  Of  course  he  did  so,  and  saw  Made- 
moiselle Diana,  and  returned  home  in  a  perfect 
frenzy  of  love." 

Norbert  seemed  so  incensed  at  this  that  Mont- 
louis  broke  off  his  recital,  feeling  confident  that  the 
Marquis  still  loved  Diana,  and  was  consumed  with 
the  flame  of  jealousy. 

"  But,  of  course,"  he  added  carelessly,  "  nothing 
is  yet  settled." 

Norbert,  however,  was  too  agitated  to  listen  to  the 
idle  gossip  of  Montlouis  any  longer,  so  he  pressed 
his  hand  and  left  him  rather  abruptly,  walking  away 
at  the  top  of  his  speed,  leaving  his  friend  silent  with 
astonishment.  It  seemed  to  Norbert  as  if  he  was 
imprisoned  in  one  of  those  iron  dungeons  he  had 
read  of,  which  slowly  contracted  day  by  day,  and 
at  last  crushed  their  victims  to  atoms.  He  saw  Diana 
married  to  the  Viscount  de  Mussidan,  and  compelled 
to  meet  daily  the  man  who  knew  all  about  her  illicit 
meetings  with  her  former  lover,  and  who  had  more 
than  once,  when  Norbert  was  unable  to  leave  Champ- 
doce,  been  intrusted  with  a  letter  or  a  message  for 
her.  And  how  would  Montlouis  behave  under  the 
circumstances?  Would  he  possess  the  necessary  tact 
and  coolness  to  carry  him  through  so  difficult  a  posi- 
tion? What  would  be  the  end  of  this  cruel  con- 
catenation of  circumstances?  Would  Diana  be  able 
to  endure  the  compromising  witness  of  her  youth- 
ful error?  She  would  eagerly  seek  out  some  pre- 
text for  his  dismissal;  he  could  easily  detect  this, 
and  in  his  anger  at  the  loss  of  a  position  which  he 


132         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

had  long  desired,  would  turn  on  her  and  repeat  the 
whole  story.  Should  Montlouis  let  loose  his  tongue, 
the  Viscount,  indignant  at  the  imposition  that  had  been 
practised  upon  him,  would  separate  from  his  wife. 
What  would  be  Diana's  conduct  when  she  found  her- 
self left  thus  alone,  and  despised  by  the  society  of 
which  she  had  hoped  to  be  a  queen  ?  Would  she  not, 
in  her  turn,  seek  to  revenge  herself  on  Norbert? 
He  had  just  asked  himself  whether  at  this  juncture 
death  would  not  be  a  blessing  to  him,  when  he  caught 
sight  of  Frangoise,  the  daughter  of  the  W^idow  Rou- 
leau, close  by  him.  For  two  hours  she  had  been 
awaiting  his  coming,  concealed  behind  a  hedge. 

"  I  have  something  to  give  you,  my  lord  Marquis," 
said  she. 

He  took  the  letter  that  she  held  out  to  him,  and, 
opening  it,  he  read, — 

"  You  said  that  I  did  not  love  you — perhaps  this 
was  but  a  test  to  prove  my  love.  I  am  ready  to  fly 
with  you  to-night.  I  shall  lose  all,  but  it  will  be 
for  your  sake.  Reflect,  Norbert;  there  is  yet  time, 
but  to-morrow  it  will  be  too  late." 

These  were  the  words  that  Mademoiselle  de  Laure- 
bourg  had  had  the  courage  to  pen,  which  to  the 
former  lover  were  full  of  the  most  thrilling  eloquence. 
The  usually  bold,  firm  writing  of  Diana  was,  in  the 
letter  before  him,  confused  and  almost  illegible,  show- 
ing the  writer's  frame  of  mind.  There  were  blurs 
and  blisters  upon  the  paper  as  though  tears  had 
fallen  upon  it,  perhaps  because  the  writing  had  been 
made  purposely  irregular  and  drops  of  water  are  an 
excellent  substitute  for  tears. 

"Does  she  really  love  me?"  murmured  he. 

He    hesitated;    yes,    he   absolutely   hesitated,   im- 


MARRIAGE  BELLS;  FUNERAL  KNELLS  133 

pressed  by  the  idea  that  for  him  she  was  ready  to 
sacrifice  position  and  honor,  that  he  had  but  to  raise 
his  finger  and  she  was  his,  and  that  in  the  space  of 
a  couple  of  hours  she  might  be  the  companion  of  his 
flight  to  some  far-distant  land.  His  pulse  throbbed 
madly,  and  he  could  scarcely  draw  his  breath,  Wtlen 
some  fifty  paces  down  the  road  he  caught  sight  of  the 
figure  of  a  man ;  it  was  his  father.  This  was  the  sec- 
ond time  that  the  Duke  by  his  mere  presence  had 
spread  the  web  of  Diana's  temptations  and  allurements. 
"  Never !  "  exclaimed  Norbert,  with  such  fire  and 
energy  that  the  girl  fell  back  a  pace.  "Never!  no, 
never ! "  and  crushing  up  the  letter,  he  dashed  it  upon 
the  ground,  from  whence  Frangoise  picked  it  up  as 
he  ran  forward  to  meet  his  father.  The  Duke  had 
recovered  from  his  attack  as  far  as  the  mere  fact  of 
his  life  not  having  been  sacrificed;  he  could  walk, 
sleep,  eat  and  drink  as  he  had  formerly  done.  He 
could  look  at  the  laborers  in  the  fields  or  the  horses 
in  the  stables,  but  five  minutes  afterwards  he  had  no 
recollection  of  what  he  heard  or  saw.  The  sudden 
loss  of  his  father's  aid  would  have  caused  Norbert 
much  embarrassment  had  it  not  been  for  the  shrewd- 
ness and  sagacity  of  M.  de  Puymandour,  who  had  as- 
sisted him  greatly.  But  all  these  arrangements  which 
had  to  be  made  had  necessarily  delayed  the  wedding. 
But  it  came  at  last;  M.  de  Puymandour  took  abso- 
lute possession  of  him,  and  after  the  unhappy  young 
man  had  passed  a  sleepless  night,  he  was  allowed 
no  time  for  reflection.  At  eleven  o'clock  he  entered 
the  carriage,  and  was  driven  fast  to  the  Mayor's 
office,  and  from  thence  to  the  chapel,  and  by  twelve 
o'clock  all  was  finished  and  he  fettered  for  life.  A 
little  before  dinner  the  Viscount  de  Mussidan  came 


134         THE    CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

to  offer  his  congratulations,  and  gained  them  at  the 
same  time  for  himself  by  announcing  his  speedy  union 
with  Mademoiselle  Diana  de  Laurebourg. 

Five  days  later  the  newly  married  pair  took  pos- 
session of  their  mansion  at  Champdoce.  Hampered 
with  a  wife  whom  he  had  never  affected  to  love, 
and  whose  tearful  face  was  a  constant  reproach  to 
him,  and  with  a  father  who  was  an  utter  imbecile, 
the  thoughts  of  suicide  more  than  once  crossed  Nor- 
bert's  brain.  One  day  a  servant  informed  Norbert 
that  his  father  refused  to  get  up.  A  doctor  was  sent 
for,  and  he  declared  that  the  Duke  was  in  a  highly 
critical  condition.  A  violent  reaction  had  taken  place, 
and  all  day  the  invalid  was  in  a  state  of  intense  ex- 
citement. The  power  of  speech,  which  he  had  almost 
entirely  lost,  seemed  to  have  returned  to  him  in  a 
miraculous  manner;  at  length,  however,  he  became 
delirious,  and  Norbert  dismissed  the  servants  who 
had  been  watching  by  his  father's  bed,  lest  in  the  in- 
coherent ravings  of  the  invalid,  the  words  "  Parri- 
cide "  or  "  Poison  "  should  break  forth.  At  eleven 
o'clock  he  grew  calmer,  and  slept  a  little,  when  all  at 
once  he  started  up  in  bed,  exclaiming :  "  Come  here, 
Norbert,"  and  Jean,  who  had  remained  by  his  old 
master's  side,  ran  up  to  the  bed  and  was  much  star- 
tled at  the  sight.  The  Duke  had  entirely  recovered 
his  former  appearance.  His  eyes  flashed,  and  his  lips 
trembled,  as  they  always  did  when  he  was  greatly 
excited. 

"  Pardon,  father ;  pardon,"  cried  Norbert,  falling 
upon  his  knees. 

The  Duke  softly  stretched  out  his  hand.  "I  was 
mad  with  family  pride,"  said  he ;  "  and  God  pun- 
ished me.     My  son,  I  forgive  you." 


"RASH   WORD,   RASH   DEED"         135 

Norbert's  sobs  broke  the  stillness  of  the  chamber. 

"  My  son,  I  renounce  my  ideas,"  continued  the 
Duke.  "  I  do  not  desire  you  to  wed  Mademoiselle  de 
Puymandour  if  you  feel  that  you  cannot  love  her." 

"  Father,"  answered  Norbert,  "  I  have  obeyed  your 
wishes,  and  she  is  now  my  wife." 

A  gleam  of  terrible  anguish  passed  over  the  Duke's 
countenance;  he  raised  his  hands  as  though  to  shield 
his  eyes  from  some  grizzly  spectre,  and  in  tones  of 
heartrending  agony  exclaimed :    "  Too  late  !  too  late !  " 

He  fell  back  in  terrible  convulsions,  and  in  a  mo- 
ment was  dead.  If,  as  has  been  often  asserted,  the 
veil  of  the  hereafter  is  torn  asunder,  then  the  Duke 
de  Champdoce  had  a  glimpse  into  a  terrible  future. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

"rash    word,  rash   deed.'' 

After  her  repulse  by  Norbert,  Diana,  with  the 
cold  chill  of  death  in  her  heart,  made  her  way  back 
to  the  Chateau  of  the  De  Laurebourgs,  over  the 
same  road  which  but  a  short  time  before  she  had  trav- 
eled full  of  expectation  and  hope.  The  sudden  ap- 
pearance of  the  Duke  de  Champdoce  had  filled  her 
with  alarm,  but  her  imagination  was  not  of  that  kind 
upon  which  unpleasant  impressions  remain  for  any 
long  period;  for  after  she  had  regained  her  room, 
and  thrown  aside  her  out-door  attire,  and  removed 
all  signs  of  mud-stains,  she  once  more  became  her- 
self, and  even  laughed  a  little  rippling  laugh  at  all 
her  own  past  alarms.    Overwhelmed  with  the  shame 


136         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

of  her  repulse,  she  had  threatened  Norbert ;  but  as  she 
reasoned  calmly,  she  felt  that  it  was  not  he  for  whom 
she  felt  the  most  violent  animosity.  All  her  hatred 
was  reserved  for  that  woman  who  had  come  between 
her  and  her  lover — for  Marie  de  Puymandour.  Some 
hidden  feeling  warned  her  that  she  must  look  into 
Marie's  past  life  for  some  reason  for  the  rupture 
of  her  engagement  with  Norbert,  though  the  banns 
had  been  already  published.  This  was  the  frame  of 
mind  in  which  Diana  was  when  the  Viscount  de  Mus- 
sidan  was  introduced  to  her,  the  friend  of  the  brother 
whose  untimely  death  had  left  her  such  a  wealthy 
heiress.  He  was  tall  and  well  made,  with  handsomely 
chiseled  features ;  and,  endowed  with  physical  strength 
and  health,  Octave  de  Mussidan  had  the  additional 
advantages  of  noble  descent  and  princely  fortune. 
Two  women,  both  renowned  for  their  wit  and  beauty, 
his  aunt  and  his  mother,  had  been  intrusted  with  the 
education  which  would  but  enable  him  to  shine  in 
society. 

Dispatched  to  Paris,  with  an  ample  allowance,  at 
the  age  of  twenty,  he  found  himself,  thanks  to  his 
birth  and  connections,  in  the  very  center  of  the  world 
of  fashion.  At  the  sight  of  Mademoiselle  de  Laure- 
bourg  his  heart  was  touched  for  the  first  time.  Diana 
had  never  been  more  charmingly  fascinating  than  she 
was  at  this  period.  Octave  de  Mussidan  did  not  suit 
her  fancy ;  there  was  too  great  a  difference  between 
him  and  Norbert,  and  nothing  would  ever  efface  from 
her  memory  the  recollection  of  the  young  Marquis 
as  he  had  appeared  before  her  on  the  first  day  of  their 
meeting  in  the  Forest  of  Bevron,  clad  in  his  rustic 
garb,  with  the  game  he  had  shot  dangling  from  his 
hand.     She  delighted  to  feast  her  recollection,*  and 


"RASH    WORD,    RASH    DEED"         137 

thought  fondly  of  his  shyness  and  diffidence  when  he 
hardly  ventured  to  raise  his  eyes  to  hers.  Octave, 
however,  fell  a  victim  at  the  first  glance  he  caught  of 
Diana,  and  permitted  himself  to  be  swept  away  by 
the  tide  of  his  private  emotions,  which  upon  every 
visit  that  he  paid  to  Laurebourg  became  more  pow- 
erful and  resistless.  Like  a  true  knight,  who  wishes 
that  he  himself  should  gain  the  love  of  his  lady  fair. 
Octave  addressed  himself  directly  to  Diana,  and  after 
many  attempts  succeeded  in  finding  himself  alone  with 
her,  and  then  he  asked  her  if  she  could  permit  him  to 
crave  of  her  father,  the  Marquis  de  Laurebourg,  the 
honor  of  her  hand.  This  appeal  surprised  her,  for  she 
had  been  so  much  absorbed  in  her  own  troubles  that 
she  had  not  even  suspected  his  love  for  her.  She 
was  even  frightened  at  his  declaration,  as  is  the  pa- 
tient when  the  surgeon  informs  him  that  he  must  use 
the  knife.  She  glanced  at  De  Mussidan  strangely  as 
he  put  this  question  to  her,  and  after  a  moment's 
hesitation,  replied  that  she  would  give  him  a  reply 
the  next  day.  After  thinking  the  matter  over,  she 
wrote  and  dispatched  the  letter  which  Frangoise  had 
carried  to  Norbert.  The  prisoner  in  the  dock,  as  he 
anxiously  awaits  the  sentence  of  his  judge,  can  alone 
appreciate  Diana's  state  of  agonized  suspense  as  she 
stood  at  the  end  of  the  park  at  Laurebourg  awaiting 
the  return  of  the  girl.  •  Her  anxiety  of  mind  lasted 
nearly  three  hours,  when  Frangoise  hurried  up  breath- 
less. 

"  What  did  the  Marquis  say  ?  "  asked  Diana. 

**  He  said  nothing ;  that  is,  he  cried  out  very  an- 
grily, *  Never !  no,  never ! '  " 

In  order  to  prevent  any  suspicions  arising  in  the 
girl's  mind,  Mademoiselle  de  Laurebourg  contrived  to 


138         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

force  a  laugh,  exclaiming:  *' Ah !  indeed,  that  is  just 
what  I  expected." 

Frangoise  seemed  as  if  she  had  something  to  say 
on  the  tip  of  her  tongue,  but  Diana  hurriedly  dis- 
missed her,  pressing  a  coin  into  her  hand.  All  anx- 
iety was  now  at  an  end;  for  her  there  was  no  longer 
any  suspense  or  anguish ;  all  her  struggles  were  now 
futile,  and  she  felt  grateful  to  Octave  for  having  given 
her  his  love.  "  Once  married,"  thought  she,  "  I  shall 
be  free,  and  shall  be  able  to  follow  the  Duke  and 
Duchess  to  Paris." 

Upon  her  return  to  the  Chateau,  she  found  Octave 
awaiting  her.  His  eyes  put  the  question  that  his  lips 
did  not  dare  to  utter;  and,  placing  her  hand  in  his 
with  a  gentle  inclination  of  her  head,  she  assented  to 
his  prayer. 

This  act  on  her  part  would,  she  believed,  free  her 
from  the  past;  but  she  was  in  error.  Upon  hearing 
that  his  dastardly  attempt  at  murder  had  failed,  the 
Counsellor  was  for  the  time  utterly  overwhelmed  with 
terror,  but  the  news  that  he  had  gained  from  M.  de 
Puymandour  calmed  his  mind  in  a  great  measure. 
He  was  not,  however,  completely  reassured  until  he 
heard  for  certain  that  the  Duke  had  become  a  help- 
less maniac,  and  that  the  doctor,  having  given  up  all 
hopes  of  his  patient's  recovery,  had  discontinued  his 
visits  to  the  Chateau.  As  soon  as  he  had  heard  that 
Norbert's  marriage  had  been  so  soon  followed  by  his 
father's  death,  he  imagined  that  every  cloud  had  dis- 
appeared from  the  sky.  All  danger  now  seemed  at 
an  end,  and  he  recalled  with  glee  that  he  had  in  his 
strong  box  the  promissory  notes,  signed  by  Norbert, 
to  the  amount  of  twenty  thousand  francs,  which  he 
could  demand  at  any  moment,  now  that  Norbert  was 


"RASH    WORD,    RASH    DEED"         139 

the  reigning  lord  of  Champdoce.  The  first  step  he 
took  was  to  hang  about  the  neighborhood  of  Laure- 
bourg,  for  he  thought  that  some  lucky  chance  would 
surely  favor  him  with  an  opportunity  for  a  little  con- 
versation with  Mademoiselle  Diana.  For  several  days 
in  succession  he  was  unsuccessful,  but  at  last  he  was 
delighted  at  seeing  her  alone,  walking  in  the  direction 
of  Bevron.  Without  her  suspecting  it,  he  followed 
her  until  the  road  passed  through  a  small  plantation, 
when  he  came  up  and  addressed  her. 

"  What  do  you  want  with  me  ? "  asked  she  an- 
grily. 

He  made  no  direct  reply;  but  after  apologizing  for 
his  boldness,  he  began  to  ofifer  his  congratulations 
upon  her  approaching  marriage,  which  was  now  the 
talk  of  the  whole  neighborhood,  and  which  pleased 
him  much,  as  M.  de  Mussidan  was  in  every  way  su- 
perior to 

"  Is  that  all  you  have  to  say  to  me  ?  "  asked  Diana, 
interrupting  his  string  of  words. 

As  she  turned  from  him,  he  had  the  audacity  to 
lay  his  hand  upon  the  edge  of  her  jacket. 

"  I  have  more  to  say,"  said  he,  "  if  you  will  honor 
me  with  your  attention.  Something  about — you  can 
guess  what." 

"About  whom  or  what?"  asked  she,  making  no 
effort  to  hide  her  supreme  contempt. 

He  smiled,  glanced  around  to  see  that  no  one  was 
within  hearing,  and  then  said  in  a  low  voice, — 

"  It  is  about  the  bottle  of  poison." 

She  recoiled,  as  though  some  venomous  reptile  had 
started  up  in  front  of  her. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  cried  she.  "  How  dare  you 
speak  to  me  thus  ?  " 


140         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

All  his  servile  manner  had  now  returned  to  him,  and 
he  uttered  a  string  of  complaints  in  a  whining  tone  of 
voice.  She  had  played  him  a  most  unfair  trick,  and 
had  stolen  a  certain  little  glass  bottle  from  his  office ; 
and  if  anything  had  leaked  out,  his  head  would  have 
paid  the  penalty  of  a  crime  in  which  he  had  no  hand. 
He  was  quite  ill,  owing  to  the  suspense  and  anxiety 
he  had  endured ;  sleep  would  not  come  to  his  bed,  and 
the  pangs  of  remorse  tortured  him  continually. 

"  Enough,"  cried  Diana,  stamping  her  foot  angrily 
on  the  ground.    "  Enough,  I  say." 

"  Well,  mademoiselle,  I  can  no  longer  remain  here. 
I  am  far  too  nervous,  and  I  wish  to  go  to  some  foreign 
country." 

"  Come,  let  me  hear  the  real  meaning  of  this  long 
preface." 

Thus  adjured,  Daumon  spoke.  He  only  wished  for 
some  little  memento  to  cheer  his  days  and  nights  of 
exile,  some  little  recognition  of  his  services ;  in  fact, 
such  a  sum  as  would  bring  him  in  an  income  of  three 
thousand  francs. 

"  I  understand  you,"  replied  Diana.  "  You  wish 
to  be  paid  for  what  you  call  your  kindness." 

"  Ah,  mademoiselle !  " 

"  And  you  put  a  value  of  sixty  thousand  francs  upon 
it ;  that  is  rather  a  high  price,  is  it  not?  " 

"  Alas !  it  is  not  half  what  this  unhappy  business 
has  cost  me." 

"  Nonsense ;  your  demand  is  preposterous." 

"  Demand !"  returned  he ;  "I  make  no  demand.  I 
come  to  you  respectfully  and  with  a  little  charity.  If 
I  were  to  demand,  I  should  come  to  you  in  quite  a 
different  manner.  I  should  say,  *  Pay  me  such  and 
such  a  sum,  or  I  tell  everything.'    What  have  I  to  lose 


"RASH  WORD,  RASH  DEED"         141 

if  the  whole  story  comes  to  light?  A  mere  nothing-. 
I  am  a  poor  man,  and  am  growing  old.  You  and  M. 
Norbert  are  the  ones  that  have  something  to  fear.  You 
are  noble,  rich,  and  young,  and  a  happy  future  lies 
before  you." 

Diana  paused  and  thought  for  an  instant. 

"  You  are  speaking,"  answered  she  at  last,  "  in  a 
most  foolish  manner.  When  charges  are  made  against 
people,  proofs  must  be  forthcoming." 

"  Quite  right,  mademoiselle ;  but  can  you  say  that 
these  proofs  are  not  in  my  hands  ?  Should  you,  how- 
ever, desire  to  buy  them,  you  are  at  liberty  to  do  so. 
I  give  you  the  first  option,  and  yet  you  grumble." 

As  he  spoke,  he  drew  a  battered  leather  pocket-book 
from  his  breast,  and  took  from  it  a  paper,  which,  after 
having  been  crumpled,  had  been  carefully  smoothed 
out  again.  Diana  glanced  at  it,  and  then  uttered  a 
stifled  cry  of  rage  and  fear,  for  she  at  once  recognized 
her  last  letter  to  Norbert. 

"  That  wretch,  Frangoise,  has  betrayed  me,"  ex- 
claimed she,  "  and  I  saved  her  mother  from  a  death 
by  hunger  and  cold." 

The  'Counsellor  held  out  the  letter  to  her.  She 
thought  that  he  had  no  suspicion  of  her,  and  made  an 
attempt  to  snatch  it  from  him ;  but  he  was  on  his  guard, 
and  drew  back  with  a  sarcastic  smile  on  his  face. 

"  No,  mademoiselle,"  said  he ;  "  this  is  not  the  little 
bottle  of  poison ;  however,  I  will  give  it  to  you,  together 
with  another  one,  when  I  have  obtained  what  I  ask. 
Nothing  for  nothing,  however;  and  if  I  must  go  to 
the  scaffold,  I  will  do  so  in  good  company." 

Mademoiselle  de  Laurebourg  was  in  utter  despair. 

"  But  I  have  no  money,"  said  she.  "  Where  is  a 
girl  to  find  such  a  sum  ?  " 


14a         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

"  M.  Norbert  can  find  it." 

"  Go  to  him,  then." 

Daumon  made  a  negative  sign  with  his  head. 

"  I  am  not  quite  such  a  fool,"  answered  he ;  "  I  know 
M.  Norbert  too  well.  He  is  the  very  image  of  his 
father.  But  you  can  manage  him,  mademoiselle ;  be- 
sides, you  have  much  interest  in  having  the  matter 
settled." 

"  Counsellor  1" 

"  There  is  no  use  in  beating  about  the  bush.  I  come 
to  you  humbly  enough,  and  you  treat  me  like  so  much 
dirt.  I  will  not  submit  to  this,  as  you  will  find  to  your 
cost.  /  never  poisoned  any  one ;  but  enough  of  this 
kind  of  thing.  To-day  is  Tuesday;  if  on  Friday,  by 
six  o'clock,  I  do  not  have  what  I  have  asked  for,  your 
father  and  the  Count  Octave  will  have  a  letter  from 
me,  and  perhaps  your  fine  marriage  may  come  to  noth- 
ing after  all." 

This  insolence  absolutely  struck  Diana  dumb,  and 
Daumon  had  disappeared  round  a  turning  of  the  road 
before  she  could  find  words  to  crush  him  for  his  vile 
attempt  at  extortion.  She  felt  that  he  was  capable  of 
keeping  his  word,  even  if  by  so  doing  he  seriously 
injured  himself  without  gaining  any  advantage. 

A  nature  like  Diana's  always  looks  danger  boldly  in 
the  face.  She  had,  however,  but  little  choice  how  she 
would  act — for  to  apply  to  Norbert  was  the  only 
resource  left  to  her — for  she  knew  that  he  would  do 
all  in  his  power  to  ward  off  the  danger  which  threat- 
ened both  of  them  so  nearly.  The  idea,  however,  of 
applying  to  him  for  aid  was  repugnant  to  her  pride. 
To  what  depths  of  meanness  and  infamy  had  she  de- 
scended? and  to  what  avail  had  been  all  her  aspira- 
tions of  ambition  and  grandeur? 


"RASH   WORD,   RASH   DEED"         143 

She  was  at  the  mercy  of  a  wretch — of  Daumon,  in 
fact.  She  was  forced  to  go  as  a  suppHant  to  a  man 
whom  she  had  loved  so  well  that  she  now  hated  him 
with  a  deadly  hatred.  But  she  did  not  hesitate  for 
a  moment.  She  went  straight  to  the  cottage  of  Widow 
Rouleau,  and  despatched  Frangoise  in  quest  of  Nor- 
bert. 

She  ordered  the  girl  to  tell  him  that  he  must  without 
fail  be  at  the  wicket  gate  in  the  park  wall  at  Laure- 
bourg  on  the  coming  night,  where  she  would  meet  him, 
and  that  the  matter  was  one  of  life  and  death. 

As  Diana  gave  these  orders  to  Frangoise,  the 
woman's  nervous  air  and  flushed  features  plainly 
showed  that  she  was  a  mere  creature  of  Daumon's; 
but  Mademoiselle  de  Laurebourg  felt  it  would  be  un- 
wise to  take  any  notice  of  her  discovery,  but  to  abstain 
from  employing  her  in  confidential  communications  for 
the  future. 

As  the  hour  of  the  meeting  drew  near  a  host  of 
doubts  assailed  her.  Would  Norbert  come  to  the  meet- 
ing? Had  Frangoise  contrived  to  see  him?  Might 
he  not  be  absent  from  home?  It  was  now  growing 
dark,  and  the  servants  brought  candles  into  the  dining- 
room,  and  Diana,  contriving  to  slip  away,  gained  the 
appointed  spot.  Norbert  was  waiting,  and  when  he 
caught  sight  of  her,  rushed  forward,  but  stopped  as 
though  restrained  by  a  sudden  thought,  and  remained 
still,  as  if  rooted  to  the  ground. 

"  You  sent  for  me,  mademoiselle  ?  "  said  he. 

"  I  did." 

After  a  pause,  in  which  she  succeeded  in  mastering 
her  emotion,  Diana  began  with  the  utmost  volubility 
to  explain  the  extortion  that  Dawson  was  endeavoring 
to  practise  upon  her,  magnifying,  though  there  was 


144         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

but  little  need  to  do  so,  all  the  threats  and  menaces  that 
he  had  made  use  of.  She  had  imagined  that  this  last 
piece  of  roguery  on  the  part  of  Daumon  would  drive 
Norbert  into  a  furious  passion,  but  to  her  surprise 
it  had  no  such  effect.  He  had  suffered  so  much  and 
so  deeply,  that  his  heart  was  almost  dead  against  any 
further  emotion. 

"  Do  not  let  this  trouble  you,"  answered  he  apathet- 
ically ;  "  I  will  see  Daumon  and  settle  with  him." 

"  Can  you  leave  me  thus,  at  our  last  meeting,  with- 
out even  a  word  ?"  asked  she. 

"  What  have  I  to  say?  My  father  forgave  me  on  his 
death-bed,  and  I  pardon  you." 

"  Farewell,  Norbert ;  we  shall  see  no  more  of  each 
other.  I  am  going  to  marry,  as  you  have  doubtless 
been  informed.  Can  I  oppose  my  parent's  will?  Be- 
sides, what  does  it  signify  ?  Farewell ;  remember  no 
one  wishes  more  sincerely  for  your  future  happiness 
than  I  do." 

"  Happy !"  exclaimed  Norbert.  "How  can  I  ever 
be  happy  again?  If  you  know  the  secret,  for  pity's 
sake  break  it  to  me.  Tell  me  how  to  forget  and  how 
to  annihilate  thought.  Do  you  not  know  that  I  had 
planned  a  life  of  perfect  happiness  with  you  by  my 
side?  I  had  visions;  and  now  plans  and  visions  are 
alike  hateful  to  me.  And  as  they  ever  and  anon  recur 
to  my  memory,  they  will  fill  me  with  terror  and 
despair." 

As  Diana  heard  these  words  of  agony,  a  wild  gleam 
of  triumph  shot  from  her  eyes,  but  it  faded  away 
quickly,  and  left  her  cold  and  emotionless  as  a  marble 
statue ;  and  when  she  reappeared  in  the  drawing-room, 
after  taking  leave  of  Norbert,  her  face  wore  so  satis- 


"RASH  WORD,  RASH  DEED"    145 

fied  an  expression,  that  the  Viscount  complimented  her 
upon  her  apparent  happiness. 

She  made  some  jesting  retort,  but  there  was  a  shade 
of  earnestness  mixed  with  her  playfulness,  for  to  her 
future  husband  she  only  wished  to  show  the  amiable 
side  of  her  character;  but  all  the  time  she  was  think- 
ing.   Will  Norbert  see  Daumon  in  time? 

The  Duke  kept  his  word,  and  the  next  day  the  faith- 
ful Jean  discreetly  handed  her  a  packet.  She  opened 
it,  and  found  that  besides  the  two  letters  of  which  the 
Counsellor  had  spoken,  it  contained  all  her  correspon- 
dence with  Norbert — more  than  a  hundred  letters  in  all, 
some  of  great  length,  and  all  of  them  compromising 
to  a  certain  extent.  Her  first  thought  was  to  destroy 
them,  but  on  reflection  she  decided  not  to  do  so,  and 
hid  the  packet  in  the  same  place  as  she  had  concealed 
the  letters  written  by  Norbert  to  her. 

Norbert  had  given  Daumon  sixty  thousand  francs, 
and  in  addition  owed  him  twenty  thousand  on  his 
promissory  notes.  This  sum,  in  addition  to  what  he 
had  already  saved,  would  form  such  a  snug  little 
fortune  that  it  would  enable  the  Counsellor  to  quit 
Bevron,  and  take  up  his  abode  in  Paris,  where  his 
peculiar  talents  would  have  more  scope  for  develop- 
ment. And  eight  days  later  the  village  was  thrown 
into  a  state  of  intense  excitement  by  the  fact  becoming 
known  that  Daumon  had  shut  up  his  house  and  de- 
parted for  Paris,  taking  Frangoise,  the  Widow  Rou- 
le.au's  daughter,  with  him.  The  Widow  Rouleau  was 
furious,  and  openly  accused  Mademoiselle  de  Laure- 
bourg  of  having  aided  in  the  committal  of  the  act 
which  had  deprived  her  of  her  daughter's  services  in 
her  declining  years ;  and  the  old  woman  who  had  acted 


146         THE   CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

as  housekeeper,  who  on  Daumon's  departure  had 
thrown  open  the  place,  did  not  hesitate  to  assert  that 
all  her  late  master's  legal  lore  had  been  acquired  in 
prison,  where  he  had  undergone  a  sentence  of  ten 
years'  penal  servitude. 

In  spite  of  all  this,  however,  Mademoiselle  de  Laure- 
bourg  was  secretly  delighted  at  the  departure  of 
Daumon  and  Franqoise ;  for  she  experienced  an  intense 
feeling  of  relief  at  knowing  that  she  no  longer  was 
in  any  risk  of  meeting  her  accomplice  in  her  daily 
walks.  Norbert,  too,  was  going  to  Paris  with  his  wife ; 
and  M.  de  Puymandour  was  going  about  saying  that 
his  daughter,  the  Duchess  of  Champdoce,  would  not 
return  to  this  part  of  the  country  for  some  time  to  come. 

Diana  drew  a  long  breath  of  relief,  for  it  seemed 
to  her  as  if  all  the  threatening  clouds,  which  had 
darkened  the  horizon,  were  fast  breaking  up  and  drift- 
ing away.  Her  future  seemed  clear,  and  she  could 
continue  the  preparations  for  her  marriage,  which  was 
to  be  celebrated  in  a  fortnight's  time ;  and  the  friend 
of  Octave  who  had  been  asked  to  act  as  his  best  man 
had  answered  in  the  affirmative. 

Diana  had  taken  accurate  measurement  of  the  love 
that  Octave  lavished  upon  her,  and  did  her  utmost  to 
increase  it.  She  had  another  cruel  idea,  and  that  Avas, 
that  the  bewitching  manner  which  she  had  assumed 
towards  her  betrothed  was  excellent  practice,  and  by 
it  she  might  judge  of  her  future  success  in  society 
when  she  resided  in  Paris.  Octave  was  utterly  con- 
quered, as  any  other  man  would  have  been  under  simi- 
4ar  circumstances. 

Upon  the  day  of  her  wedding  she  was  dazzling  in 
her  beaut}^  and  her  face  was  radiant  with  happiness ; 
but  it  was  a  mere  mask,  which  she  had  put  on  to  con- 


"RASH    WORD,    RASH    DEED"         147 

ceal  her  real  feelings.  She  knew  that  many  curious 
eyes  were  fixed  upon  her  as  she  left  the  chapel;  and 
the  crowd  formed  a  lane  for  her  to  pass  through.  She 
saw  many  a  glance  of  dislike  cast  upon  her;  but  a 
more  severe  blow  awaited  her,  for  on  her  arrival  at 
the  Chateau  de  Mussidan,  to  which  she  was  driven 
directly  after  the  ceremony,  the  first  person  she  met 
was  Montlouis,  who  came  forward  to  welcome  her. 
Bold  and  self-possessed  as  she  was,  the  sight  of  this 
man  startled  her,  and  a  bright  flush  passed  across  her 
face.  Fortunately  Montlouis  had  had  time  to  prepare 
himself  for  this  meeting,  and  his  face  showed  no  token 
of  recognition.  But  though  his  salutation  was  of  the 
most  respectful  description,  Madame  de  Mossidan 
thought  she  saw  in  his  eyes  that  ironical  expression  of 
contempt  which  she  had  more  than  once  seen  in  Dau- 
mon's  face. 

"  That  man  must  not,  shall  not,  stay  here,"  she 
murmured  to  herself. 

It  was  easy  enough  for  her  to  ask  her  husband  to 
dismiss  Montlouis  from  his  employ,  but  it  was  a 
dangerous  step  to  take ;  and  her  easiest  course  was  to 
defer  the  dismissal  of  the  secretary  until  some  really 
good  pretext  offered  itself.  Nor  was  this  pretext  long 
in  presenting  itself;  for  Octave  was  by  no  means  sat- 
isfied with  the  young  man's  conduct.  Montlouis, 
who  had  been  full  of  zeal  while  in  Paris,  had  renewed 
his  liaison,  on  his  return  to  Mussidan,  with  the  girl 
with  whom  he  had  been  formerly  entangled  at  Poitiers. 
This,  of  course,  could  not  be  permitted  to  go  on,  and 
an  explosion  was  clearly  to  be  expected ;  but  what  Di- 
ana dreaded  most  was  the  accidental  development  o£ 
sc^e  unseen  chance. 

After  she  had  been  married  some  two  weeks,  when 


148         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

Octave  proposed  in  the  afternoon  that  they  should  go 
for  a  walk,  she  agreed.  Her  preparations  were  soon 
completed,  and  they  started  off,  blithe  and  lively  as 
children  on  a  holiday  ramble.  As  they  loitered  in  a 
wooded  path,  they  heard  a  dog  barking  in  the  cover. 
It  was  Bruno,  who  rushed  out,  and,  standing  on  his 
hind  legs,  endeavored  to  lick  Diana's  face. 

"  Help,  help,  Octave !  "  she  exclaimed,  and  her  hus- 
band, springing  to  her  side,  drove  away  the  animal. 

"  Were  you  very  much  alarmed,  dearest  ?  "  asked  he. 

"  Yes,"  answered  she  faintly ;  "  I  was  almost  fright- 
ened to  death." 

"  I  do  not  think  that  he  would  do  you  any  harm," 
remarked  Octave. 

"  No  matter ;  make  him  go  away" ;  and  as  she  spoke 
she  struck  at  him  with  her  parasol.  But  the  dog  never 
for  a  moment  supposed  that  Diana  was  in  earnest,  and, 
supposing  that  she  intended  to  play  with  him,  as  she 
had  often  done  before,  began  to  gambol  round  her, 
barking  joyously  the  whole  time. 

"  But  this  dog  evidently  knows  you,  Diana,"  ob- 
served the  Viscount. 

"  Know  me  ?  Impossible !  "  and  as  she  spoke  Bruno 
ran  up  and  licked  her  hand.  "  If  he  does,  his  memory 
is  better  than  mine;  at  any  rate,  I  am  half  afraid  of 
him.    Come,  Octave,  let  us  go." 

They  turned  away,  and  Octave  would  have  forgotten 
all  about  the  occurrence  had  not  Bruno,  delighted  at 
having  found  an  old  acquaintance,  persisted  in  follow- 
ing them. 

"  This  is  strange,"  exclaimed  the  Viscount,  "  very 
strange  indeed.  Look  here,  my  man,"  said  he,  address- 
ing a  peasant,  who  was  engaged  in  clipping  a  hedge 
by  the  roadside,  "  do  you  know  whose  dog  this  is  ?  " 


"RASH   WORD,   RASH   DEED"         149 

"  Yes,  my  lord,  it  belongs  to  the  young  Duke  of 
Champdoce." 

"  Of  course,"  answered  Diana,  "  I  have  often  seen 
the  dog  at  the  Widow  Rouleau's,  and  have  occasionally 
given  it  a  piece  of  bread.  He  was  always  with  Fran- 
Qoise,  who  ran  off  with  that  man  Daumon.  Oh,  yes, 
I  know  him  now ;  here,  Bruno,  here !  " 

The  dog  rushed  to  her,  and,  stooping  down,  she 
caressed  him,  thus  hoping  to  conceal  her  tell-tale  face. 

Octave  drew  his  wife's  arm  within  his  without  an- 
other word.  A  strange  feeling  of  doubt  had  arisen  in 
his  mind.  Diana,  too,  was  much  disturbed,  and  abused 
herself  mentally  for  having  been  so  weak  and  cow- 
ardly. Why  had  she  not  at  once  confessed  that  she 
knew  the  dog  ?  Had  she  said  at  once,  "  Why,  that  is 
Bruno,  the  Duke  of  Champdoce's  dog,"  her  husband 
would  have  thought  no  more  about  the  matter;  but 
her  own  folly  had  made  much  of  a  merely  trivial 
incident. 

Ever  since  that  fatal  walk  the  Viscount's  manner 
appeared  to  have  changed,  and  more  than  once  Diana 
fancied  that  she  caught  a  look  of  suspicion  in  his  eyes. 
How  could  she  best  manage  to  make  him  forget  this 
unlucky  event?  She  saw  that  for  the  rest  of  her  life 
she  must  aflfect  a  terror  of  dogs ;  and,  for  the  future, 
whenever  she  saw  one,  she  uttered  a  little  cry  of  alarm, 
and  insisted  upon  all  Octave's  being  chained  up.  But 
for  all  this  she  lived  in  a  perfect  atmosphere  of  sus- 
picion and  anxiety,  while  the  very  ground  upon  which 
she  walked  seemed  to  have  been  mined  beneath  her 
feet.  Her  sole  wish  now  was  to  fly  from  Mussidan, 
and  leave  Bevron  and  its  environs,  she  cared  not  for 
what  spot.  It  had  been  first  arranged  that  immediately 
after  the  marriage  they  should  make  a  short  tour; 


ISO         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

but,  in  spite  .of  this,  they  still  lingered  at  Mussidan; 
and  all  that  Diana  could  do  was  to  keep  this  previous 
determination  before  her  husband,  without  making 
any  direct  attack. 

The  blow  came  at  last,  and  was  more  unexpected  and 
terrible  than  she  had  anticipated.  On  the  afternoon 
of  the  26th  of  October,  as  Diana  was  gazing  from  her 
window,  an  excited  crowd  rushed  into  the  courtyard 
of  the  Chateau,  followed  by  four  men  bearing  a  litter 
covered  with  a  sheet,  tmder  which  could  be  distin- 
guished the  rigid  limbs  of  a  dead  body,  while  a  cruel 
crimson  stain  upon  one  side  of  the  white  covering  too 
plainly  showed  that  some  one  had  met  with  a  violent 
death. 

The  hideous  sight  froze  Diana  with  terror,  anu  it 
was  impossible  for  her  to  leave  the  window  or  quit 
the  object  on  the  litter,  which  seemed  to  have  a  ter- 
rible fascination  for  her.  That  very  morning  her  hus- 
band, accompanied  by  his  friend  the  Baron  de  din- 
chain,  Montlouis,  and  a  servant  named  Ludovic,  had 
gone  out  for  a  day's  shooting.  It  was  evident  that 
something  had  happened  to  one  of  the  party ;  which  of 
them  could  it  be?  The  doubt  was  not  of  very  long 
duration ;  for  at  that  moment  her  husband  entered  the 
courtyard,  supported  by  M.  de  Clinchain  and  Ludovic. 
His  face  was  deadly  pale,  and  he  seemed  scarcely  able 
to  drag  one  leg  after  the  other.  The  dead  man  there- 
fore must  be  Montlouis.  She  need  no  longer  plot  and 
scheme  for  the  dismissal  of  the  secretary,  for  his 
tongue  had  been  silenced  for  ever. 

A  ray  of  comfort  dawned  in  Diana's  heart  at  this 
idea,  and  gave  her  the  strength  to  descend  the  stair- 
case.    Halfway  down  she  met  M.  de  Clinchain,  who 


"RASH  WORD,  RASH  DEED"    151 

was  ascending".  He  seized  her  by  the  arm,  and  said 
hoarsely, — 

"  Go  back,  madame,  go  back]  " 

"  But  tell  me  what  has  happened." 

"  A  terrible  calamity.  Go  back  to  your  room,  I  beg' 
of  you.  Your  husband  will  be  here  presently";  and, 
as  Octave  appeared,  he  absolutely  pushed  her  into  her 
own  room. 

Octave  followed,  and,  extending  his  arms,  pressed 
his  wife  closely  to  his  breast,  bursting  as  he  did  so 
into  a  passion  of  sobs. 

"  Ah !  "  cried  M.  de  Clinchain  joyously,  "  he  is  saved. 
See,  he  weeps ;  I  had  feared  for  his  reason." 

After  many  questions  and  incoherent  answers, 
Madame  de  Mussidan  at  last  arrived  at  the  fact  that 
her  husband  had  shot  Montlouis  by  accident.  Diana 
believed  this  story,  but  it  was  far  from  the  truth. 
Montlouis  had  met  his  death  at  her  hands  quite  as 
much  as  the  Duke  de  Champdoce  had  done.  He  had 
died  because  he  was  the  possessor  of  a  fatal  secret. 

This  was  what  had  really  occurred.  After  lunch. 
Octave,  who  had  drunk  rather  freely,  began  to  rally 
Montlouis  regarding  his  mysterious  movements,  and 
to  assert  that  some  woman  must  be  at  the  bottom  of 
them.  At  first  Montlouis  joined  in  the  laugh;  but 
at  length  M.  de  Mussidan  became  too  personal  in  re- 
marks regarding"  the  woman  his  secretary  loved,  and 
Montlouis  responded  angrily.  This  influenced  his 
master's  temper,  and  he  went  on  to  say  that  he  could 
no  longer  permit  such  doings,  and  he  reproached  his 
secretary  for  risking  his  present  and  future  for  a 
woman  who  was  worthy  neither  of  love  nor  respect, 
and  who  was  notoriously  unfaithful  to  him.     Mont- 


152         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

iouis  heard  this  last  taunt  with  compressed  lips  and  a 
deep  cloud  upon  his  brow. 

"  Do  not  utter  a  word  more.  Count,"  said  he ;  "I 
forbid  you  to  do  so." 

He  spoke  so  disrespectfully  that  Octave  was  about 
to  strike  him,  but  Montlouis  drew  back  and  avoided 
the  blow ;  but  he  was  so  intoxicated  with  fury  that  this 
last  insult  roused  him  beyond  all  bounds. 

*'  By  what  right  do  you  speak  thus,"  said  he,  *'  who 
have  married  another  man's  mistress?  It  well  be- 
comes you  to  talk  of  woman's  virtue,  when  your  wife 
is  a " 

He  had  no  time  to  finish  his  sentence,  for  Octave, 
levelling  his  gun,  shot  him  through  the  heart. 

M.  de  Mussidan  kept  these  facts  from  his  wife  be- 
cause he  really  loved  her,  and  true  love  is  capable  of 
any  extreme;  and  he  felt  that,  however  strong  the 
cause  might  be,  he  should  never  have  the  courage  to 
separate  from  Diana ;  that  whatever  she  might  do  in 
the  future,  or  had  already  done  in  the  past,  he  could 
not  choose  but  forgive  her.  ^ 

Acquitted  of  all  blame,  thanks  to  Clinchain's  and 
Ludovic's  evidence — for  they  had  mutually  agreed  that 
the  tragical  occurrence  should  be  represented  to  have 
been  the  result  of  an  accident — the  conscience  of  M. 
de  Mussidan  left  him  but  little  peace.  The  girl  whom 
Montlouis  had  loved  had  been  driven  from  her  home 
in  disgrace,  owing  to  having  given  birth  to  a  son. 
Octave  sought  her  out,  and,  without  giving  any  reason 
for  his  generosity,  told  her  that  her  son,  whom  she 
had  named  Paul,  after  his  father,  Montlouis,  should 
never  come  to  want. 

Shortly  after  this  sad  occurrence,  M.  de  Mussidan 
and  his  wife  quitted  Poitiers,  for  Diana  had  more  than 


A   SCHEME   OF   VENGEANCE  153 

once  determined  that  she  would  make  Paris  her  resi- 
dence for  the  future.  She  had  taken  into  her  service 
a  woman  who  had  been  in  the  service  of  Marie  de 
Puymandour,  and  through  her  had  discovered  that, 
previous  to  her  marriage  with  Norbert,  Marie  had 
loved  George  de  Croisenois;  and  she  intended  to  use 
this  knowledge  at  some  future  date  as  a  weapon  with 
which  to  deal  the  Duke  de  Champdoce  a  deadly  blow. 


CHAPTER  Xni. 

A   SCHEME  OF  VENGEIANCE. 

The  marriage  between  Norbert  and  Mademoiselle 
de  Puymandour  was  entirely  deficient  in  that  brief, 
ephemeral  light  that  shines  over  the  honeymoon.  The 
icy  wall  that  stood  between  them  became  each  day 
stronger  and  taller.  There  was  no  one  to  smooth  away 
inequalities,  no  one  to  exercise  a  kindly  influence  over 
two  characters,  both  haughty  and  determined.  After 
his  father's  death,  when  Norbert  announced  his  inten- 
tion of  residing  in  Paris,  M.  de  Puymandour  highly 
approved  of  this  resolution,  for  he  fancied  that  if  he 
were  to  remain  alone  in  the  country,  he  could  to  a 
certain  extent  take  the  place  and  position  of  the  late 
Duke,  and,  with  the  permission  of  his  son-in-law,  at 
once  take  up  his  residence  at  Champdoce. 

Almost  as  soon  as  the  young  Duchess  arrived  in 
Paris  she  realized  the  fact  that  she  was  the  most  un- 
fortunate woman  in  the  world.  As  Champdoce  was 
almost  like  her  own  home,  her  eyes  lighted  on  familiar 
scenes;  and  if  she  went  out,  she  was  sure  of  being 


IS4         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

greeted  by  kindly  words  and  friendly  features ;  but  in 
Paris  she  only  found  solitude,  for  everything  there 
was  strange  and  hostile.  The  late  Duke,  pinching  and 
parsimonious  as  he  had  been  towards  himself  and  his 
son,  launched  out  into  the  wildest  extravagances  when 
he  imagined  he  was  working  for  his  coming  race,  and 
the  home  which  he  had  prepared  for  his  great-grand- 
children was  the  incarnation  of  splendor  and  luxury. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  Norbert  and  his  wife,  they 
could  almost  fancy  that  they  had  only  quitted  their 
town  house  a  few  days  before,  so  perfect  were  all  the 
arrangements.  Had  Norbert  been  left  to  act  for  him- 
self, he  might  have  felt  a  little  embarrassed,  but  his 
trusty  servant  Jean  aided  him  with  his  advice,  and 
the  establishment  was  kept  on  a  footing  to  do  honor 
to  the  traditions  of  the  house  of  Champdoce.  Every- 
thing can  be  procured  in  Paris  for  money,  and  Jean 
had  filled  the  ante-rooms  with  lackeys,  the  kitchens 
and  offices  with  cooks  and  scullions,  and  the  stables 
with  grooms,  coachmen,  and  horses,  while  every  de- 
scription of  carriage  stood  in  the  place  appointed  for 
their  reception. 

But  all  this  bustle  and  excitement  did  not  seem  in 
the  eyes  of  the  young  Duchess  to  impart  life  to  the 
house.  It  appeared  to  her  dead  and  empty  as  a  sepul- 
chre. It  seemed  as  if  she  were  living  beneath  the 
weight  of  some  vague  and  indefinable  terror,  some 
hideous  and  hidden  spectre  which  might  at  any  mo- 
ment start  from  its  hiding  place  and  drive  her  mad 
with  the  alarm  it  excited.  She  had  not  a  soul  in  whom 
she  could  confide.  She  had  been  forbidden  by  Nor- 
bert to  renew  her  acquaintance  with  her  old  Parisian 
friends,  for  Norbert  did  not  consider  them  of  suffi- 
ciently good  family,  and  in  addition  he  had  used  the 


A   SCHEME   OF   VENGEANCE  155 

pretext  of  the  deep  mourning  they  were  in  to  put  off 
receiving  visitors  for  a  twelvemonth  at  least.  She  felt 
herself  alone  and  solitary,  and,  in  this  frame  of  mind, 
how  was  it  possible  for  her  not  to  let  her  thoughts 
wander  once  again  to  George  de  Croisenois.  Had 
her  father  been  willing,  she  might  have  been  his  wife 
now,  and  have  been  wandering  hand  in  hand  in  some 
sequestered  spot  beneath  the  clear  blue  sky  of  Italy. 

He  had  loved  her,  while  Norbert . 

Norbert  was  leading  one  of  those  mad,  headstrong 
lives  which  have  but  two  conclusions — ruin  or  sui- 
cide. His  name  had  been  put  up  for  election  at  a 
fashionable  club  by  his  uncle,  the  Chevalier  de  Sep- 
traor,  as  soon  as  he  arrived  in  Paris.  He  had  been 
elected  at  once,  being  looked  on  as  a  decided  acquisi- 
tion to  the  list  of  members.  He  bore  one  of  the  oldest 
names  to  be  found  among  the  French  nobility,  while 
his  fortune — gigantic  as  it  was — had  been  magnified 
threefold  by  the  tongue  of  common  report.  He  was 
received  with  open  arms  everywhere,  and  lived  in  a 
perfect  atmosphere  of  flattery.  Not  being  able  to  shine 
by  means  of  cultivation  or  polish,  he  sought  to  gain 
a  position  in  his  club  by  a  certain  roughness  of  de- 
meanor and  a  cynical  mode  of  speech.  He  flung  away 
his  money  in  every  direction,  kept  racers,  and  was 
uniformly  fortunate  in  his  betting  transactions.  He 
frequented  the  world  of  gallantry,  and  was  constantly 
to  be  seen  in  the  company  of  women  whose  reputations 
were  exceedingly  equivocal.  His  days  were  spent  on 
horseback,  or  in  the  fencing  room,  and  his  nights  in 
drinking,  gambling,  and  all  kinds  of  debauchery.  His 
wife  scarcely  ever  saw  him,  for  when  he  returned  home 
it  was  usually  with  the  first  beams  of  day,  either  half 
intoxicated  or  savage  from  having  lost  large  sums  at 


iS6         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

the  gambling  table.  Jean,  the  old  and  trusty  retainer 
of  the  house  of  Champdoce,  was  deeply  grieved,  not 
so  much  at  seeing  his  master  so  rapidly  pursuing  the 
path  to  ruin  as  at  the  fact  that  he  was  ever  surrounded 
by  dissolute  and  disreputable  acquaintances. 

"  Think  of  your  name,"  he  would  ujjge ;  "  of  the 
honor  of  your  name." 

"  And  what  does  that  matter,"  sneered  Norbert, 
"  provided  that  I  live  a  jolly  life,  and  shuffle  out  of  the 
world  rapidly  ?  " 

There  was  one  fixed  star  in  all  the  dark  clouds  that 
surrounded  him,  which  now  seemed  to  blaze  brightly, 
and  this  star  was  Diana  de  Mussidan.  Do  what  he 
would,  it  was  impossible  to  eflFace  her  image  from  his 
memory.  Even  amidst  the  fumes  of  wine  and  the  de- 
bauched revelry  of  the  supper  table  he  could  see  the 
form  that  he  had  once  so  passionately  loved  standing 
out  like  a  pillar  of  light,  clear  and  distinct  against  the 
darkness.  He  had  led  this  demoralizing  existence  for 
fully  six  months,  when  one  day,  as  he  was  riding  down 
the  Avenue  des  Champs  Elysees,  he  saw  a  lady  give 
him  a  friendly  bow.  She  was  seated  in  a  magnificent 
open  carriage,  wrapped  in  the  richest  and  most  costly 
furs.  Thinking  that  she  might  be  one  of  the  many 
actresses  with  whom  he  was  acquainted,  Norbert 
turned  his  horse's  head  towards  the  carriage ;  but  as 
he  got  nearer  he  saw,  to  his  extreme  amazement  and 
almost  terror,  that  it  was  Diana  de  Mussidan  who  was 
seated  in  it.  He  did  not  turn  back,  however;  and  as 
the  carriage  had  just  drawn  up,  he  reined  in  his  horse 
alongside  of  it.  Diana  was  as  much  agitated  as  he 
was,  and  for  a  moment  neither  of  them  spoke,  but 
their  eyes  were  firmly  fixed  upon  each  other,  and  they 
sat  pale  and  breathless,  as  if  each  had  some  sad  pre- 


A   SCHEME   OF   VENGEANCE  157 

sentiment  which  fate  was  preparing  for  them  both. 
At  last  Norbert  felt  that  he  must  break  the  silence,  for 
the  servants  were  beginning  to  gaze  upon  them  with 
eyes  full  of  curiosity. 

"  What,  madame,  you  here,  in  Paris  ?  "  said  he  with 
an  effort. 

She  had  drawn  out  a  slender  hand  from  the  mass  of 
furs  in  which  she  was  enveloped,  and  extended  it  to 
him,  as  she  replied  in  a  tone  which  had  a  ring  of  ten- 
derness beneath  its  commonplace  tone, — 

"  Yes,  we  are  established  here,  and  I  hope  that  we 
shall  be  as  good  friends  as  we  were  once  before.  Fare- 
well, until  we  meet  again." 

As  if  her  words  had  been  a  signal,  the  coachman 
struck  his  horses  lightly  with  his  whip,  and  the  mag- 
nificent equipage  rolled  swiftly  away.  Norbert  had 
not  accepted  Diana's  proffered  hand,  but  presently  he 
realized  the  whole  scene,  and  plunging  his  spurs  into 
his  horse  dashed  furiously  up  the  Avenue  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  Arc  de  Triomphe. 

"  Ah,"  said  he,  as  a  bitter  pang  of  despair  shot 
through  his  heart,  "  I  still  love  her,  and  can  never  care 
for  any  one  else ;  but  I  will  see  her  again.  She  has  not 
forgotten  me.  I  could  read  it  in  her  eyes,  and  detect 
it  in  the  tones  of  her  voice."  Here  a  momentary 
gleam  of  reason  crossed  his  brain.  "  But  will  a  woman 
like  Diana  ever  forgive  an  offence  like  mine  ?  and  when 
she  seems  most  friendly  the  danger  is  the  more 
near." 

Unfortunately  he  thrust  aside  this  idea,  and  refused 
to  listen  to  the  voice  of  reason.  That  evening  he 
went  down  to  his  club  with  the  intention  of  asking  a 
few  questions  regarding  the  Mussidans.  He  heard 
enough  to  satisfy  himself,  and  the  next  day  he  met 


158         THE  CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

Madame  de  Mussidan  in  the  Champs  Elysees,  and 
for  many  days  afterwards  in  rapid  succession.  Each 
day  they  exchanged  a  few  words,  and  at  last  Diana, 
with  much  simulated  hesitation,  promised  to  alight 
from  her  carriage  when  next  they  met  in  the  Bois, 
and  talk  to  Norbert  unhampered  by  the  presence  of 
the  domestics. 

Madame  de  Mussidan  had  made  the  appointment 
for  three  o'clock,  but  before  two  Norbert  was  on  the 
spot,  in  a  fever  of  expectation  and  doubt. 

"  Is  it  I,"  asked  he  of  himself,  "  waiting  once  more 
for  Diana,  as  I  have  so  often  waited  for  her  at 
Bevron  ?  " 

Ah,  how  many  changes  had  taken  place  since  then! 
He  was  now  no  longer  waiting  for  Diana  de  Laure- 
bourg,  but  for  the  Countess  de  Mussidan,  another 
man's  wife,  while  he  also  was  a  married  man.  It  was 
no  longer  the  whim  of  a  monomaniac  that  kept  them 
apart,  but  the  dictates  of  law,  honor,  and  the  world. 

"  Why,"  said  he,  in  a  mad  burst  of  passion,  "  why 
should  we  not  set  at  defiance  all  the  cold  social  rules 
framed  by  an  artificial  state  of  society ;  why  should  not 
the  woman  leave  her  husband  and  the  man  his  wife?  " 
Norbert  had  consulted  his  watch  times  without  number 
before  the  appointed  hour  came.  "  Ah,"  sighed  he, 
"  suppose  that  she  should  not  come  after  all." 

As  he  said  these  words  a  cab  stopped,  and  the 
Countess  de  Mussidan  alighted  from  it.  She  came 
rapidly  along  towards  him,  crossing  an  open  space 
without  heeding  the  irregularities  of  the  ground,  as 
that  diminished  the  distance  which  separated  her  from 
Norbert.  He  advanced  to  meet  her,  and  taking  his 
arm,  they  plunged  into  the  recesses  of  the  Bois.  There 
had  been  heavy  rain  on  the  day  previous,  and  the  path- 


A   SCHEME   OF   VENGEANCE  159 

way  was  wet  and  muddy,  but  Madame  de  Mussidan  did 
not  seem  to  notice  this. 

"  Let  us  go  on,"  said  she,  "  until  we  are  certain 
of  not  being  seen  from  the  road.  I  have  taken  every 
precaution.  My  carriage  and  servants  are  waiting  for 
me  in  front  of  St.  Philippe  du  Roule ;  but  for  all  that  I 
may  have  been  watched." 

"  You  were  not  so  timid  in  bygone  days." 

"  Then  I  was  my  own  mistress ;  and  if  I  lost  my 
reputation,  the  loss  affected  me  only ;  but  on  my  wed- 
ding day  I  had  a  sacred  trust  confided  to  me — the 
honor  of  the  man  who  has  given  me  his  name,  and  that 
I  must  guard  with  jealous  care." 

"  Then  you  love  me  no  longer." 

She  stopped  suddenly,  and  overwhelming  Norbeit 
with  one  of  those  glacial  glances  which  she  knew  so 
well  how  to  assume,  answered  in  measured  accents, — 

"  Your  memory  fails  you ;  all  that  has  remained  to 
me  of  the  past  is  the  rejection  of  a  proposal  conveyed 
in  a  certain  letter  that  I  wrote." 

Norbert  interrupted  her  by  a  piteous  gesture  of  en- 
treaty. 

"  Mercy !  "  said  he.  "  You  would  pardon  me  if  you 
knew  all  the  horrors  of  the  punishment  that  I  am 
enduring.  I  was  mad,  blind,  besotted,  nor  did  I  love 
you  as  I  do  at  this  moment." 

A  smile  played  round  Diana's  beautiful  mouth,  for 
Norbert  had  told  her  nothing  that  she  did  not  know 
before,  but  she  wished  to  hear  it  from  his  own  lips. 

"  Alas !  "  murmured  she ;  "  I  can  only  frame  my 
reply  with  the  fatal  words,  'Too  late!'" 

"Diana!" 

He  endeavored  to  seize  her  hand,  but  she  drew  it 
away  with  a  rapid  movement. 


i6o         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

"  Do  not  use  that  name,"  said  she ;  "  you  have  no 
Tight  to  do  so.  Is  it  not  sufficient  to  have  blighted  the 
young  girl's  life  ?  and  yet  you  seek  to  compromise  the 
honor  of  the  wife.  You  must  forget  me ;  do  you  un- 
derstand? It  is  to  tell  you  this  that  I  am  here.  The 
other  day,  when  I  saw  you  again,  I  lost  my  self-com- 
mand. My  heart  leapt  up  at  the  sight  of  you,  and,  fool 
that  I  was,  I  permitted  you  to  see  this;  but  base  no 
hopes  on  my  weakness.  I  said  to  you.  Let  us  be 
friends.  It  was  a  mere  act  of  madness.  We  can  never 
be  friends,  and  had  better,  therefore,  treat  each  other  as 
strangers.  Do  you  forget  that  lying  tongues  at  Bevron 
accused  me  of  being  your  mistress  ?  Do  you  think  that 
this  falsehood  has  not  reached  my  husband's  ears? 
One  day,  when  your  name  was  mentioned  in  his  pres- 
ence, I  saw  a  gleam  of  hatred  and  jealousy  in  his  eye. 
Great  heavens!  should  he,  on  my  return,  suspect  that 
my  hand  had  rested  in  yours,  he  would  expel  me  from 
his  house  like  some  guilty  wretch !  The  door  of  our 
house  must  remain  for  ever  closed  to  you.  I  am  miser- 
able indeed.  Be  a  man ;  and  if  your  heart  still  holds 
one  atom  of  the  love  you  once  bore  for  me,  prove  it 
by  never  seeking  me  again." 

As  she  concluded  she  hurried  away,  leaving  in  Nor- 
bert's  heart  a  more  deadly  poison  than  the  one  she  had 
endeavored  to  persuade  the  son  to  administer  to  his 
father,  the  Duke  de  Champdoce.  She  knew  each 
chord  that  vibrated  in  his  heart,  and  could  play  on  it 
at  will.  She  felt  sure  that  in  a  month  he  would  again 
be  her  slave,  and  that  she  could  exercise  over  him  a 
sway  more  despotic  than  she  had  yet  done,  and,  in 
addition  to  this,  that  he  would  assist  her  in  executing 
a  cruel  scheme  of  revenge,  which  she  had  long  been 
plotting. 


FALSE   FRIEND,   OLD   LOVER         i6i 

After  having  followed  Diana  about  like  her  very 
shadow  for  several  days,  Norbert  at  last  again  ven- 
tured to  approach  her  in  the  Champs  Elysees.  She  was 
angry,  but  not  to  such  an  extent  that  he  feared  to 
repeat  his  offence.  Then  she  wept,  but  her  tears  could 
not  force  him  to  avoid  her.  At  first  her  system  of 
defence  was  very  strong,  then  it  gradually  grew 
weaker.  She  granted  him  another  interview,  and  then 
two  others  followed.  But  what  were  those  meetings 
worth  to  him  ?  They  took  place  in  a  church  or  a  pub- 
lic gallery,  in  places  where  they  could  scarcely  ex- 
change a  grasp  of  the  hand.  At  length  she  told  him 
that  she  had  thought  of  a  place  which  would  render 
their  interviews  less  perilous,  but  that  she  hardly 
dared  tell  him  where  it  was.  He  pressed  her  to  tell 
him,  and,  by  degrees,  she  permitted  herself  to  be  per- 
suaded. Her  idea  was  to  become  the  friend  of  the 
Duchess  of  Champdoce. 

Norbert  now  felt  that  she  was  more  an  angel  than  a 
woman,  and  it  was  agreed  that  on  the  next  day  he 
himself  would  introduce  her  to  his  wife. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

FALSE  FRIEND,  OLD  LOVER. 

It  was  on  a  Wednesday  morning  that  the  Duke  de 
Champdoce,  instead  of,  as  usual,  going  to  his  own  or 
one  of  his  friends'  clubs  to  breakfast,  took  his  seat  at 
the  table  where  his  wife  was  partaking  of  her  morn- 
ing meal.  He  was  in  excellent  spirits,  gay,  and  full 
of  pleasant  talk,  a  mood  in  which  his  wife  had  never 
seen  him  since  their  ill-fated  marriage.    The  Duchess 


i62         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

could  not  understand  this  sudden  change  in  her  hus- 
band; it  terrified  and  alarmed  her,  for  she  felt  that  it 
was  the  forerunner  of  some  serious  event,  which  would 
change  the  current  of  her  life  entirely. 

Norbert  waited  until  the  domestics  had  completed 
their  duty  and  retired,  and  as  soon  as  he  was  alone 
with  his  wife  he  took  her  hand  and  kissed  it  with  an 
air  of  gallantry. 

"  It  has  been  a  long  time,  my  dear  Marie,  since  I 
had  resolved  to  open  my  heart  to  you  entirely,  and  now 
a  full  and  open  explanation  has  become  absolutely  nec- 
essary." 

"  An  explanation !  "  faltered  Marie. 

"  Yes,  certainly ;  but  do  not  let  the  word  alarm  you. 
I  fear  that  I  must  have  appeared  in  your  eyes  the  most 
morose  and  disagreeable  of  husbands.  Permit  me  to 
explain.  Since  we  came  here,  I  have  gone  about  my 
own  affairs,  I  have  gone  out  early  and  returned  ex- 
tremely late,  and  sometimes  three  days  have  elapsed 
without  our  even  setting  eyes  on  each  other." 

The  young  Duchess  listened  to  him  like  a  woman 
who  could  not  believe  her  ears.  Could  this  be  her 
husband  who  was  heaping  reproaches  upon  himself  in 
this  manner? 

"  I  have  made  no  complaint,"  stammered  she. 

"  I  know  that,  Marie ;  you  have  a  noble  and  for- 
giving nature;  but,  however,  it  is  impossible,  as  a 
woman,  that  you  should  not  have  condemned  me." 

"  Indeed,  but  I  have  not  done  so." 

"  So  much  the  better  for  me.  On  this  I  shall  not 
have  to  find  either  defence  or  excuse  for  my  conduct; 
you  must  know,  however,  that  you  are  ever  foremost 
in  my  thoughts,  even  when  I  am  away  from  you," 

He  was  evidently  doing  his  best  to  put  on  an  air 


FALSE   FRIEND,   OLD   LOVER         163 

of  tenderness  and  affection,  but  he  failed ;  for  though 
his  words  were  kind,  the  tone  of  his  voice  was  neither 
tender  nor  sympathetic. 

"  I  hope  I  know  my  duty,"  said  the  Duchess. 

"  Pray,  Marie,"  broke  in  he,  "  do  not  let  the  word 
duty  be  uttered  between  us.  You  know  that  you  have 
been  much  alone,  because  it  was  impossible  for  the 
friends  of  Mademoiselle  de  Puymandour  to  be  those 
of  the  Duchess  de  Champdoce !  " 

"  Have  I  made  any  opposition  to  your  orders  ?  " 

"  Then,  too,  our  mourning  prevents  us  going  out 
into  the  world  for  five  months  longer  at  least." 

"  Have  I  asked  to  go  out  ?  " 

"  All  the  more  reason  that  I  should  endeavor  to 
make  your  home  less  dull  for  you.  I  should  like  you  to 
have  with  you  some  person  in  whose  society  you  could 
find  pleasure  and  distraction.  Not  one  of  those  foolish 
girls  who  have  no  thought  save  for  balls  and  dress, 
but  a  sensible  woman  of  the  world,  and,  above  all,  one 
of  your  own  age  and  rank, — a  woman,  in  short,  of 
whom  you  could  make  a  friend.  But  where  can  such  a 
one  be  found?  It  is  a  perilous  quest  to  venture 
on,  and  upon  such  a  friend  often  depends  the  happiness 
and  misery  of  a  home. 

"  But,"  continued  he,  after  a  brief  pause,  "  I  think 
that  I  have  discovered  the  very  one  that  will  suit  you. 
I  met  her  at  the  house  of  Madame  d'Ailange,  who 
spoke  eloquently  of  her  charms  of  mind  and  body,  and 
I  hope  to  have  the  pleasure  of  presenting  her  to  you 
to-day." 

"  Here,  at  our  house  ?  " 

"  Certainly ;  there  is  nothing  odd  in  this.  Besides, 
the  lady  is  no  stranger  to  us ;  she  comes  from  our  own 
part  of  the  country,  and  you  know  her," 


i64         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

A  flush  came  over  his  face,  and  he  busied  himself 
with  the  fire  to  conceal  it  as  he  added, — 

"You  recollect  Mademoiselle  de  Laurebourg?" 

"  Do  you  mean  Diana  de  Laurebourg  ?  " 

"  Exactly  so." 

"  I  saw  very  little  of  her,  for  my  father  and  hers 
did  not  get  on  very  well  together.  The  Marquis  de 
Laurebourg  looked  on  us  as  too  insignificant  to " 

"Ah,  well,"  interrupted  he,  "I  trust  that  the 
daughter  will  make  up  for  the  father's  shortcomings. 
She  married  just  after  our  wedding  had  been  cele- 
brated, and  her  husband  is  the  Count  de  Mussidan. 
She  will  call  on  you  to-day,  and  I  have  told  your  serv- 
ants to  say  that  you  are  at  home." 

The  silence  that  followed  this  speech  lasted  for 
nearly  a  couple  of  minutes,  and  became  exceedingly 
embarrassing,  when  suddenly  the  sound  of  wheels  was 
heard  on  the  gravel  of  the  courtyard,  and  in  a  moment 
afterwards  a  servant  came  and  announced  that  the 
Countess  de  Mussidan  was  in  the  drawing-room.  Nor- 
bert  rose,  and,  taking  his  wife's  arm,  led  her  away. 

"  Come,  Marie,  come,"  said  he ;  "  she  has  arrived." 

Diana  had  reflected  deeply  before  she  had  taken  this 
extraordinarily  bold  step.  In  paying  a  visit  so  con- 
trary to  all  the  usual  rules  of  etiquette,  she  exposed 
herself  to  the  chance  of  receiving  a  severe  rebuff.  The 
few  seconds  that  elapsed  while  she  was  still  alone  in 
the  drawing-room  seemed  like  so  many  centuries;  but 
the  door  was  opened,  and  Norbert  and  his  wife  ap- 
peared. Then,  with  a  charming  smile,  Madame  de 
Mussidan  rose  and  bowed  gracefully  to  the  Duchess  de 
Champdoce,  making  a  series  of  half-jesting  apologies 
for  her  intrusion.  She  had  been  utterly  unable,  she 
said,  to  resist  the  pleasure  she  should  experience  in 


FALSE   FRIEND,    OLD    LOVER         165 

seeing  an  old  county  neighbor,  the  more  so  as  they 
were  now  separated  by  so  short  a  distance.  She  had, 
therefore,  disregarded  all  the  rules  of  etiquette  so  that 
they  might  have  a  cosy  chat  about  Poitiers,  Bevron, 
Champdoce,  and  all  the  county  where  she  had  been 
born,  and  which  she  so  dearly  loved. 

The  Duchess  listened  in  silence  to  this  torrent  of 
words,  and  the  expression  of  her  face  showed  how  sur- 
prised she  was  at  this  unexpected  visit.  A  less  per- 
fectly self-possessed  woman  than  Diana  de  Mussidan 
might  have  felt  abashed,  but  the  slight  annoyance  was 
not  to  be  compared  to  the  prospective  advantages  that 
she  hoped  to  gain,  and  she  brought  all  the  mettle  of  her 
talent  and  diplomacy  into  play. 

Norbert  was  moving  about  the  room,  half  ashamed 
of  the  ignoble  part  that  he  was  playing.  As  soon  as 
he  thought  that  the  welcome  between  the  two  ladies 
had  been  partially  got  over,  and  imagined  that  they 
were  conversing  more  amicably  together,  he  slipped 
out  of  the  room,  not  knowing  whether  to  be  pleased  or 
angry  at  the  success  of  the  trick. 

The  trick  was  rather  a  more  difficult  one  than  Diana 
had,  from  Norbert's  account,  anticipated,  as  she  had 
thought  that  she  would  have  been  received  by  the 
Duchess  like  some  ministering  angel  sent  down  to 
earth  to  console  an  unhappy  captive.  She  had  ex- 
pected to  find  a  simple,  guileless  woman,  who,  upon 
her  first  visit,  would  throw  her  arms  round  her  visi- 
tor's neck  and  yield  herself  entirely  to  her  influence. 
Far,  however,  from  being  dismayed,  Diana  was  rather 
pleased  at  this  unexpected  difficulty,  and  so  fully  ex- 
erted all  her  powers  of  fascination,  that  when  she 
took  her  leave,  she  believed  that  she  had  made  a  little 
progress. 


i66         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

On  that  very  evening  the  Duchess  remarked  to  her 
husband, — 

"  I  think  that  I  shall  like  Madame  de  Mussidan ;  she 
seems  an  excellent  kind  of  woman." 

"  Excellent  is  just  the  proper  word,"  returned  Nor- 
bert.  "All  Bevron  was  in  tears  when  she  was  married 
and  had  to  leave,  for  she  was  a  real  angel  among  the 
poor." 

Norbert  was  intensely  gratified  by  Diana's  success ; 
for  was  it  not  for  him  that  she  had  displayed  all  her 
skill,  and  was  not  this  a  proof  that  she  still  cherished 
a  passion  for  him? 

He  was  not,  however,  quite  so  much  pleased  when 
he  met  Madame  de  Mussidan  the  next  day  in  the 
Champs  Elysees.     She  looked  sad  and  thoughtful. 

"What  has  gone  wrong?  "  asked  he. 

"  I  am  very  angry  with  myself  for  having  listened 
to  the  voice  of  my  own  heart  and  to  your  entreaties," 
answered  she,  "and  I  think  that  both  of  us  have  com- 
mitted a  grave  error." 

"  Indeed,  and  what  have  we  done  ?" 

"  Norbert,  your  wife  suspects  something." 

"  Impossible !  why,  she  was  praising  you  after  you 
had  left." 

"  If  that  is  the  case,  then  she  is  indeed  a  much  more 
clever  woman  than  I  had  imagined,  for  she  knows  how 
to  conceal  her  suspicions  until  she  is  in  a  position  to 
prove  them." 

Diana  spoke  with  such  a  serious  air  of  conviction, 
that  Norbert  became  quite  alarmed. 

"  What  shall  we  do  ?  "  asked  he. 

"  The  best  thing  would  be  to  give  up  meeting  each 
other,  I  think." 

"  Never ;  I  tell  you,  never !  " 


FALSE   FRIEND,   OLD   LOVER         167 

"  Let  me  reflect ;  in  the  meantime  be  prudent ;  for 
both  our  sakes,  be  prudent." 

To  further  his  ends,  Norbert  entirely  changed  his 
mode  of  life.  He  gave  up  going  to  his  clubs,  refused 
invitations  to  fast  suppers,  and  no  longer  spent  his 
nights  in  gambling  and  drinking.  He  drove  out  with 
his  wife,  and  frequently  spent  his  evenings  with  her, 
and  at  the  club  began  to  be  looked  on  as  quite  a  model 
husband-  This  great  change,  however,  was  not  ef- 
fected without  many  a  severe  inward  struggle.  He 
felt  deeply  humiliated  at  the  life  of  deception  that  he 
was  forced  to  lead,  but  Diana's  hand,  apparently  so 
slight  and  frail,  held  him  with  a  grip  of  steel. 

"  We  must  live  in  this  way,"  said  she,  in  answer 
to  his  expostulations,  "  first,  because  it  must  be  so ; 
and,  secondly,  because  it  is  my  will.  On  our  present 
mode  of  conduct  depends  all  our  future  safety,  and  I 
wish  the  Duchess  to  believe  that  with  me  happiness  and 
content  must  have  come  to  her  fireside." 

Norbert  could  not  gainsay  this  very  reasonable  prop- 
osition on  the  part  of  Madame  de  Mussidan,  for  he 
was  more  in  love  than  ever,  and  the  terrible  fear  that 
if  he  went  in  any  way  contrary  to  her  wishes  that  she 
would  refuse  to  see  him  any  more,  stayed  the  words 
of  objection  that  rose  to  his  lips. 

After  hesitating  for  a  little  longer,  the  Duchess  made 
up  her  mind  to  accept  the  oflfer  of  friendship  which 
Diana  had  so  ingenuously  offered  to  her,  and  finished 
by  giving  herself  up  to  the  bitterest  enemy  that  she 
had  in  the  world.  By  degrees  she  had  no  secrets  from 
her  new  friend,  and  one  day,  after  a  long  and  confi- 
dential conversation,  she  acknowledged  to  Diana  the 
whole  secret  of  the  early  love  of  her  girlish  days,  the 
memory  of  which  had  never  faded  from  the  inmost 


i68         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

recesses  of  her  heart,  and  was  rash  enough  to  men- 
tion George  de  Croisenois  by  name.  Madame  de  Mus- 
sidan  was  overjoyed  at  what  she  considered  so  signal 
a  victory. 

"  Now  I  have  her,"  thought  she,  "  and  vengeance  is 
within  my  grasp." 

Marie  and  Diana  were  now  like  two  sisters,  and 
were  almost  constantly  together ;  but  this  intimacy  had 
not  given  to  Norbert  the  facile  means  of  meeting  Diana 
which  he  had  so  ardently  hoped  for.  Though  Madame 
de  Mussidan  visited  his  house  nearly  every  day,  he  ab- 
solutely saw  less  of  her  than  he  had  done  before,  and 
sometimes  weeks  elapsed  without  his  catching  a 
glimpse  of  her  face.  She  played  her  game  with  such 
consummate  skill,  that  Marie  was  always  placed  as  a 
barrier  between  Norbert  and  herself,  as  in  the  farce, 
when  the  lover  wishes  to  embrace  his  mistress,  he  finds 
the  wrinkled  visage  of  the  duenna  offered  to  his  lips. 
Sometimes  he  grew  angry,  but  Diana  always  had  some 
excellent  reason  with  which  to  close  his  mouth.  Some- 
times she  held  up  his  pretensions  to  ridicule,  and  at 
others  assumed  a  haughty  air,  which  always  quelled  in- 
cipient rebelHon  upon  his  part. 

"  What  did  you  expect  of  me  ? "  she  would  say, 
"  and  of  what  base  act  did  you  do  me  the  honor  to  con- 
sider me  capable  ?  " 

He  was  treated  exactly  like  a  child,  or  more  cruel 
still,  like  a  person  deficient  in  intellect,  and  this  he  was 
thoroughly  aware  of.  He  could  not  meet  Madame  de 
Mussidan  as  he  had  formerly  done,  for  now  in  the 
Bois,  at  Longchamps,  or  at  any  place  of  public  amuse- 
ment she  was  invariably  surrounded  by  a  band  of  fash- 
ionable admirers,  among  whom  George  de  Croisenois 
was  always  to  be  found.     Norbert  disliked  all  these 


FALSE   FRIEND,    OLD    LOVER  169 

men,  but  he  had  a  special  antipathy  to  George  de 
Croisenois,  whom  he  regarded  as  a  superciHous  fool; 
but  in  this  opinion  he  was  entirely  wrong,  for  the  Mar- 
quis de  Croisenois  was  looked  upon  as  one  of  the  most 
talented  and  witty  men  in  Parisian  society,  and  in  this 
case  the  opinion  of  the  world  was  a  well-founded  one. 
Many  men  envied  him,  but  he  had  no  enemies,  and  his 
honest  and  straightforward  conduct  was  beyond  all 
doubt.  He  had  all  the  noble  instincts  of  a  knight  of  the 
days  of  chivalry. 

"  Pray,"  asked  Norbert,  "  what  is  it  that  you  can 
see  in  this  sneering  dandy  who  is  always  hanging  about 
you  ?  " 

But  Diana,  with  a  meaning  smile,  always  made  the 
same  reply, — 

"  You  ask  too  much ;  but  some  time  you  will  learn 
all." 

Every  day  she  contrived,  when  with  the  Duchess,  to 
turn  the  conversation  skilfully  upon  George  de  Croise- 
nois, and  she  had  in  a  manner  accustomed  Marie  to 
look  certain  possibilities  straight  in  the  face,  from  the 
very  idea  of  which  she  would  a  few  months  back  have 
recoiled  with  horror.  This  point  once  gained,  Madame 
de  Mussidan  believed  that  the  moment  had  arrived  to 
bring  the  former  lovers  together  again,  and  fancied 
that  one  sudden  and  unexpected  encounter  would  ad- 
vance matters  much  more  quickly  than  all  her  half- 
veiled  insinuations.  One  day,  therefore,  when  the 
Duchess  had  called  on  her  friend,  on  entering  the 
drawing-room,  she  found  it  only  tenanted  by  George 
de  Croisenois.  An  exclamation  of  astonishment  fell 
from  the  lips  of  both  as  their  eyes  met;  the  cheek  of 
each  grew  pale.  The  Duchess,  overcome  by  her  feel- 
ings, sank  half-fainting  into  a  chair  near  the  door. 


I70         THE    CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

"  Ah,"  murmured  he,  scarcely  knowing  the  mean- 
ing of  the  words  he  uttered,  "  I  had  every  confidence 
in  you,  and  you  have  forgotten  me." 

"  You  do  not  beHeve  the  words  you  have  just 
spoken,"  returned  the  Duchess  haughtily ;  "  but,"  she 
added  in  softer  accents,  "what  could  I  do?  I  may 
have  been  weak  in  obeying  my  father,  but  for  all  that 
I  have  never  forgotten  the  past." 

Madame  de  Mussidan,  who  had  stationed  herself 
behind  the  closed  door,  caught  every  word,  and  a  gleam 
of  diabolical  triumph  flashed  from  her  eyes.  She  felt 
sure  that  an  interview  which  began  in  this  manner 
would  be  certain  to  be  repeated,  and  she  was  not  in 
error.  She  soon  saw  that  by  some  tacit  understanding 
the  Duchess  and  George  contrived  to  meet  constantly 
at  her  house,  but  this  she  carefully  abstained  from  no- 
ticing. Things  were  working  exactly  as  she  desired, 
and  she  waited,  for  she  could  well  afford  to  do  so, 
knowing  that  the  impending  crash  could  not  long  be 
delayed. 


CHAPTER   XV. 


A    STAB    IN    THE    DARK. 


September  had  now  arrived;  and  though  the 
weather  was  very  bad,  the  Duke  de  Champdoce,  accom- 
panied by  his  faithful  old  servant,  Jean,  left  Paris  on  a 
visit  to  his  training  stables.  Having  had  a  serious  dif- 
ference with  Diana,  he  had  made  up  his  mind  to  try 
whether  a  long  absence  on  his  part  would  not  have  the 
effect  of  reducing  her  to  submission,  and  at  the  same 


A   STAB    IN    THE   DARK  171 

time  remembering  the  proverb,  that  "  absence  makes 
the  heart  grow  fonder." 

He  had  already  been  away  two  whole  days,  and  was 
growing  extremely  anxious  at  not  having  heard  from 
Madame  de  Mussidan,  when  one  evening,  as  he  was 
returning  from  a  late  inspection  of  his  stud,  he  was 
informed  that  there  was  a  man  waiting  to  see  him. 
The  man  was  a  poor  old  fellow  belonging  to  the  place, 
who  eked  out  a  wretched  subsistence  by  begging,  and 
executing  occasional  commissions. 

"  Do  you  want  me  ?  "  asked  the  Duke. 

With  a  sly  look,  the  man  drew  from  his  pocket  a 
letter. 

"  This  is  for  you,"  muttered  he. 

"  All  right ;  give  it  to  me,  then." 

"  I  was  told  to  give  it  to  you  only  in  private." 

"  Never  mind  that ;  hand  it  over." 

"  Well,  if  I  must,  I  must." 

Norbert's  sole  thought  was  that  this  letter  must  have 
come  from  Diana,  and  throwing  the  man  a  coin,  hur- 
ried to  a  spot  where  it  was  light  enough  to  read  the 
missive.  He  did  not,  however,  recognize  Diana's  firm, 
bold  hand  on  the  envelope. 

"  Who  the  devil  can  this  be  from  ?  "  thought  Nor- 
bert,  as  he  tore  open  the  outer  covering.  The  paper 
within  was  soiled  and  greasy,  and  the  handwriting  was 
of  the  vilest  description,  it  was  full  of  bad  spelling, 
and  ran  thus: — 

"  Sir,— 

"  I  hardly  dare  tell  you  the  truth,  and  yet  my  con- 
science will  give  me  no  relief  until  I  do  so.  I  can  no 
longer  bear  to  see  a  gentleman  such  as  you  are  deceived 
by  a  woman  who  has  no  heart  or  honorable  feeling. 
Your  wife  is  unfaithful  to  you,  and  will  soon  make  you 


172         THE    CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

a  laughing  stock  to  all.  You  may  trust  to  this  being 
true,  for  I  am  a  respectable  woman,  and  you  can  easily 
find  out  if  I  am  lying  to  you.  Hide  yourself  this  even- 
ing, so  that  you  may  command  a  view  of  the  side-door 
in  the  wall  of  your  garden,  and  between  half-past  ten 
and  eleven  you  will  see  your  wife's  lover  enter.  It  is 
a  long  time  since  he  has  been  furnished  with  a  key. 
The  hour  for  the  meeting  has  been  judiciously  fixed, 
for  all  the  servants  will  be  out ;  but  I  implore  you  not  to 
be  violent,  for  I  would  not  do  your  wife  any  harm,  but 
I  feel  that  you  ought  to  be  warned, 
"  From  one 

"  Who  Knows." 

Norbert  ran  through  the  contents  of  this  infamous 
anonymous  letter  in  an  instant.  The  blood  surged 
madly  through  his  brain,  and  he  uttered  a  howl  of  fury. 
His  servants  ran  in  to  see  what  was  the  matter. 

"  Where  is  the  fellow  who  brought  this  letter  ?  "  said 
he.    "  Run  after  him  and  bring  him  back  to  me." 

In  a  few  minutes  the  sturdy  grooms  made  their  ap- 
pearance, pushing  in  the  messenger,  who  seemed  over- 
powered with  tears. 

"  I  am  not  a  thief,"  exclaimed  he.  "  It  was  given  to 
me,  but  I  will  give  it  back." 

He  was  alluding  to  the  louis  given  to  him  by  Nor- 
bert, for  the  largeness  of  the  sum  made  him  think  that 
the  donor  had  made  a  mistake. 

"  Keep  the  money,"  said  the  Duke ;  "  I  meant  it  foi" 
you ;  but  tell  me  who  gave  this  letter  to  you." 

"  I  can't  tell  you,"  answered  the  man.  "  If  I  ever 
saw  him  before,  may  my  next  glass  of  wine  choke  me. 
He  got  out  of  a  cab  just  as  I  was  passing  near  the 
bridge,  and  calling  to  me,  said,  '  Look  at  this  letter  ; 
at  half-past  seven  take  it  to  the  Duke  de  Champdoce, 
who  lives  by  his  stables  in  the  road  to  the  Forest.    Do 


A   STAB    IN   THE   DARK  173 

you  know  the  place  ? '  '  Yes/  I  says,  and  then  he  slips 
the  letter  and  a  five-franc  piece  into  my  hand,  got  back 
into  the  cab,  and  off  he  went." 

"  What  was  the  man  like  ?  "  asked  he, 

"  Well,  I  can  hardly  say.  He  wasn't  young  or  old, 
or  short  or  tall.  I  recollect  he  had  a  gold  watch-chain 
on,  but  that  was  about  all  I  noticed." 

"  Very  well ;  you  can  be  off." 

At  this  moment  Norbert's  anger  was  turned  against 
the  writer  of  the  letter  only,  for  he  did  not  place  the 
smallest  credence  in  the  accusations  against  his  wife. 
If  he  did  not  love  her,  he  at  any  rate  respected  her. 
"  My  wife,"  said  he  to  himself,  "  is  an  honorable  and 
virtuous  woman,  and  it  is  some  discharged  menial  who 
has  taken  this  cowardly  mode  of  revenge."  A  closer 
inspection  of  the  letter  seemed  to  show  him  that  the 
faults  in  caligraphy  were  intentional.  The  concluding 
portion  of  the  letter  excited  his  attention,  and,  calling 
Jean,  he  asked  him  if  it  was  true  that  all  his  servants 
would  be  absent  from  the  house  to-day. 

"  There  will  be  none  there  this  evening ;  not  until 
late  at  night,"  answered  the  old  man. 

"And  why,  pray?" 

"  Have  you  forgotten,  your  Grace,  that  the  first 
coachman  is  going  to  be  married,  and  the  Duchess  was 
good  enough  to  say  that  all  might  go  to  the  wedding 
dinner  and  ball,  as  long  as  some  one  remained  at  the 
porter's  lodge  ?  " 

After  the  first  outburst,  Norbert  affected  an  air  of 
calmness,  and  laughed  at  the  idea  of  having  permitted 
himself  to  be  disturbed  for  so  trivial  a  cause.  But  this 
was  mere  pretence,  for  doubt  and  suspicion  had  en- 
tered his  soul,  and  no  power  on  earth  could  expel  them. 
"  Why  should  not  my  wife  be  unfaithful  to  me  ?  " 


174         THE    CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

thought  Norbert.  "  I  give  her  credit  for  being  honor- 
able and  right-minded,  but  then  all  deceived  husbands 
have  the  same  idea.  Why  should  I  not  take  advantage 
of  this  information,  and  judge  for  myself?  But  no. 
I  will  not  stoop  to  such  an  act  of  baseness.  I  should 
be  as  infamous  as  the  writer  of  this  letter  if  I  was  to 
play  the  spy,  as  she  recommends  me  to  do."  He 
glanced  round,  and  perceived  that  his  servants  were 
looking  at  him  with  undisguised  curiosity. 

"  Go  to  your  work,"  said  he.  "  Extinguish  the 
lights,  and  see  that  all  the  doors  and  windows  are  care- 
fully closed." 

He  had  made  up  his  mind  now,  and  taking  out  his 
watch,  saw  that  it  was  just  eight  o'clock.  "  I  have  time 
to  reach  Paris,"  muttered  he,  "  by  the  appointed  time." 
Then  he  called  Jean  to  him  again.  There  was  no  need 
to  conceal  anything  from  this  trusty  adherent  of  the 
house  of  Champdoce.  "  I  must  start  for  Paris,"  said 
the  Duke,  "  without  an  instant's  delay." 

"  On  account  of  that  letter  ? "  asked  the  old  man 
with  an  expression  of  the  deepest  sorrow  upon  his 
features. 

"  Yes,  for  that  reason  only." 

"  Some  one  has  been  making  false  charges  against 
the  Duchess." 

"  How  do  you  know  that  ?  " 

"  It  was  easy  enough  to  guess." 

"  Have  the  carriage  got  ready,  and  tell  the  coach- 
man to  wait  for  me  in  front  of  the  club.  I  myself 
will  go  on  foot." 

"You  must  not  do  that,"  answered  Jean  gravely. 
"  The  servants  may  have  conceived  the  same  suspicions 
as  I  have.  You  ought  to  creep  away  without  any  one 
being  a  bit  the  wiser.    The  other  domestics  need  not 


A    STAB    IN   THE   DARK  175 

even  suppose  that  you  have  left  the  house.  I  can  get 
you  a  horse  out  of  the  Httle  stables  without  any  one 
being  the  wiser.  I  will  wait  for  you  on  the  other  side 
of  the  bridge." 

"  Good ;  but  remember  that  I  have  not  a  moment  to 
lose." 

Jean  left  the  room,  and  as  he  reached  the  passage 
Norbert  heard  him  say  to  one  of  the  servants,  "  Put 
some  cold  supper  on  the  table ;  the  Duke  says  that  he  is 
starving." 

Norbert  went  into  his  bedroom,  put  on  a  great  coat 
and  a  pair  of  high  boots,  and  slipped  into  his  pocket  a 
reyolver,  the  charges  of  which  he  had  examined  with 
the  greatest  care.  The  night  was  exceedingly  dark,  a 
fine,  icy  rain  was  falling,  and  the  roads  were  very 
heavy.  Norbert  found  Jean  with  the  horse  at  the  ap- 
pointed spot,  and  as  he  leaped  into  the  saddle  the  Duke 
exclaimed,  "  Not  a  soul  saw  me  leave  the  house." 

"  Nor  I  either,"  returned  the  attached  domestic.  "  I 
shall  go  back  and  act  as  if  you  were  at  supper.  At 
three  in  the  morning  I  will  be  in  the  wine-shop  on  the 
left-hand  side  of  the  road.  When  you  return,  give  a 
gentle  tap  on  the  window-pane  with  the  handle  of  your 
whip."  Norbert  sprang  into  the  saddle,  and  sped  away 
through  the  darkness  like  a  phantom  of  the  night. 
Jean  had  made  an  excellent  choice  in  the  horse  he  had 
brought  for  his  master's  use,  and  the  animal  made  its 
way  rapidly  through  the  mud  and  rain ;  but  Norbert  by 
this  time  was  half  mad  with  excitement,  and  spurred 
him  madly  on.  As  he  neared  home  a  new  idea  crossed 
his  brain.  Suppose  it  was  a  practical  joke  on  the  part 
of  some  of  the  members  of  the  club  ?  In  that  case,  they 
would  doubtless  be  watching  for  his  arrival,  and,  after 
talking  to  him  on  indifferent  subjects,  would,  when  he 


176         THE    CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

betrayed  any  symptoms  of  impatience,  overwhelm  him 
with  ridicule.  The  fear  of  this  made  him  cautious. 
What  should  he  do  with  the  horse  he  was  riding  ?  The 
wine-shops  were  open,  and  perhaps  he  might  pick  up 
some  man  there  who  would  take  charge  of  it  for  him. 
As  he  was  debating  this  point,  his  eye  fell  upon  a  sol- 
dier, probably  on  his  way  to  barracks. 

"  My  man,"  asked  the  Duke,  "  would  you  like  to 
earn  twenty  francs  ?  " 

"  I  should  think  so,  if  it  is  nothing  contrary  to  the 
rules  and  regulations  of  the  army." 

"  It  is  only  to  take  my  horse  and  walk  him  up  and 
down  while  I  pay  a  visit  close  by." 

"  I  can  stay  out  of  barracks  a  couple  of  hours  longer, 
but  no  more,"  returned  the  soldier. 

Norbert  told  the  soldier  where  he  was  to  wait  for 
him,  and  then  went  on  rapidly  to  his  own  house,  and 
reached  the  side  street  along  which  ran  the  garden  be- 
longing to  his  magnificent  residence.  On  the  opposite 
side  of  the  street  the  houses  all  had  porticoes,  and  Nor- 
bert took  up  his  position  in  one  of  these,  and  peered 
out  carefully.  He  had  studied  the  whole  street,  which 
was  not  a  long  one,  from  beginning  to  end,  and  was 
convinced  that  he  was  the  only  person  in  it.  He  made 
up  his  mind  that  he  would  wait  until  midnight ;  and  if 
by  that  time  no  one  appeared,  he  would  feel  confident 
that  the  Duchess  was  innocent,  and  return  without  any 
one  but  Jean  having  known  of  his  expedition.  From 
his  position  he  could  see  that  three  windows  on  the 
second  floor  of  his  house  were  lighted  up,  and  those 
windows  were  in  his  wife's  sleeping  apartment.  "  She 
is  the  last  woman  in  the  world  to  permit  a  lover  to 
visit  her,"  thought  he.  "  No,  no ;  the  whole  thing  is 
a  hoax."    He  began  to  think  of  the  way  in  which  he 


A    STAB    IN    THE    DARK  177 

had  treated  his  wife.  Had  he  nothing  to  reprbach  him- 
self with?  Ten  days  after  their  marriage  he  had  de- 
serted her  entirely;  and  if  during  the  last  few  weeks 
he  had  paid  her  any  attention,  it  was  because  he  was 
acting  in  obedience  to  the  whims  of  another  woman. 
Suppose  a  lover  was  with  her  now,  what  right  had  he 
to  interfere?  The  law  gave  him  leave,  but  what  did 
his  conscience  say?  He  leaned  against  the  chill  stone 
until  he  almost  became  as  cold  as  it  was.  It  seemed  to 
him  at  that  moment  that  life  and  hope  were  rapidly 
drifting  away  from  him.  He  had  lost  all  count  of  how 
long  he  had  been  on  guard.  He  pulled  out  his  watch, 
but  it  was  too  dark  to  distinguish  the  hands  or  the 
figures  on  the  dial-plate.  A  neighboring  clock  struck 
the  half-hour,  but  this  gave  him  no  clue  as  to  the 
time.  He  had  almost  made  up  his  mind  to  leave,  when 
he  heard  the  sound  of  a  quick  step  coming  down  the 
street.  It  was  the  light,  quick  step  of  a  sportsman, — 
of  a  man  more  accustomed  to  the  woods  and  fields  than 
the  pavement  and  asphalt  of  Paris.  Then  a  shadow 
fell  upon  the  opposite  wall,  and  almost  immediately 
disappeared.  Then  Norbert  knew  that  the  door  had 
opened  and  closed,  and  that  the  man  had  entered  the 
garden.  There  could  be  no  doubt  upon  this  point,  and 
yet  the  Duke  would  have  given  worlds  to  be  able  to  dis- 
believe the  evidence  of  his  senses.  It  might  be  a  burg- 
lar, but  burglars  seldom  work  alone ;  or  it  might  be  a 
visitor  to  one  of  the  servants,  but  all  the  servants  were 
absent.  He  again  raised  his  eyes  to  the  windows  of  his 
wife's  room.  All  of  a  sudden  the  light  grew  brighter ; 
either  the  lamp  had  been  turned  up,  or  fresh  candles 
lighted.  Yes,  it  was  a  candle,  for  he  saw  it  borne 
across  the  room  in  the  direction  of  the  great  staircase, 
and  now  he  saw  that  the  anonymous  letter  had  spoken 


178         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

the  truth,  and  that  he  was  c«i  the  brink  of  a  discovery. 
A  lover  had  entered  the  garden,  and  the  lighted  candle 
was  a  signal  to  him.  Norbert  shuddered ;  the  blood 
seemed  to  course  through  his  veins  like  streams  of 
molten  fire,  and  the  misty  atmosphere  that  surrounded 
him  appeared  to  stifle  him.  He  ran  across  the  street, 
forced  the  lock,  and  rushed  wildly  into  the  garden. 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

HUSBAND   AND   LOVER. 

The  writer  of  the  anonymous  communication  had 
only  known  the  secret  too  well,  for  the  Duchess  de 
Champdoce  was  awaiting  a  visit  that  evening  from 
George  de  Croisenois;  this  was,  however,  the  first 
time.  Step  by  step  she  had  yielded,  and  at  length  had 
fallen  into  the  snare  laid  for  her  by  the  treacherous 
woman  whom  she  believed  to  be  her  truest  friend.  The 
evening  before  this  eventful  night  she  had  been  alone 
in  Madame  de  Mussidan's  drawing-room  with  George 
de  Croisenois.  She  had  been  impressed  by  his  ardent 
passion,  and  had  listened  with  pleasure  to  his  loving 
entreaties. 

"  I  yield,"  said  she.  "  Come  to-morrow  night,  at 
half-past  ten,  to  the  little  door  in  the  garden  wall ;  it 
will  only  be  kept  closed  by  a  stone  being  placed  against 
it  inside ;  push  it,  and  it  will  open ;  and  when  you  have 
entered  the  garden,  acquaint  me  with  your  presence  by 
clapping  your  hands  gently  once  or  twice." 

Diana  had,  from  a  secure  hiding-place,  overheard 
these  words,  and  feeling  certain  that  the  Duchess 
would  repent  her  rash  promise,  she  kept  close  to  her 
side  until  George's  departure,  to  give  her  no  chance  of 


HUSBAND   AND   LOVER  179 

retracting  her  promise.  The  next  day  she  was  con- 
stantly with  her  victim,  and  made  an  excuse  for  din- 
ing with  her,  so  as  not  to  quit  her  until  the  hour  for 
the  meeting  had  almost  arrived. 

It  was  not  until  she  was  left  alone  that  the  Duchess 
saw  the  full  extent  of  her  folly  and  rashness.  She  was 
terrified  at  the  promise  that  she  had  given  in  a  weak 
moment,  and  would  have  given  worlds  had  she  been 
able  to  retract. 

There  was  yet,  however,  one  means  of  safety  left 
her — she  could  hurry  downstairs  and  secure  the  gar- 
den gate.  She  started  to  her  feet,  determined  to  exe- 
cute her  project ;  but  she  was  too  late,  for  the  appointed 
signal  was  heard  through  the  chill  gloom  of  the  night. 
Unhappy  woman!  The  light  sound  of  George  de 
Croisenois'  palms  striking  one  upon  the  other  re- 
sounded in  her  ears  like  the  dismal  tolling  of  the  fune- 
real bell.  She  stooped  to  light  a  candle  at  the  fire,  but 
her  hand  trembled  so  that  she  could  scarcely  effect  her 
object.  She  felt  sure  that  George  was  still  in  the  gar- 
den, though  she  had  made  no  answer  to  his  signal. 
She  had  never  thought  that  he  would  have  had  the 
audacity  to  open  a  door  that  led  into  the  house  from 
the  garden,  but  this  is  what  he  had  done.  In  the  most 
innocent  manner  imaginable,  and  so  that  her  listener  in 
no  way  suspected  the  special  reason  that  she  had  for 
making  this  communication,  Diana  de  Mussidan  had 
informed  George  de  Croisenois  that  upon  this  night  all 
the  domestics  of  the  Champdoce  household  would  be 
attending  the  coachman's  wedding,  and  that  conse- 
quently the  mansion  would  be  deserted.  George  knew 
also  that  the  Duke  was  away  at  his  training  establish- 
ment, and  he  therefore  opened  the  door,  and  walked 
boldly  up  the  main  staircase,  so  that  when  the  Duchess, 


i8o         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

with  'the  hghted  candle  in  her  hand,  came  to  the  top 
steps  she  found  herself  face  to  face  with  George  de 
Croisenois,  pallid  with  emotion  and  quivering  with  ex- 
citement. 

At  the  sight  of  the  man  she  loved  she  started  back- 
wards with  a  low  cry  of  anguish  and  despair. 

"  Fly !  "  she  said  "  fly,  or  we  are  lost !  " 

He  did  not,  however,  seem  to  hear  her,  and  the 
Duchess  recoiled  slowly,  step  by  step,  through  the  open 
door  of  her  chamber,  across  the  carpeted  floor,  until 
she  reached  the  opposite  wall  of  her  room,  and  could 
go  no  farther. 

George  followed  her,  and  pushed  to  the  door  of  the 
room  as  he  entered  it.  This  brief  delay,  however,  had 
sufficed  to  restore  Marie  to  the  full  possession  of  her 
senses.  "  If  I  permit  him  to  speak,"  thought  she, — "  if 
he  once  suspects  that  my  love  for  him  is  still  as  strong 
as  ever,  I  am  lost." 

Then  she  said  aloud, — 

"  You  must  leave  this  house,  and  that  instantly.  I 
was  mad  when  I  said  what  I  did  yesterday.  You  are 
too  noble  and  too  generous  not  to  listen  to  me  when  I 
tell  you  that  the  moment  of  infatuation  is  over,  and 
that  all  my  reason  has  returned  to  me,  and  my  openness 
will  convince  you  of  the  truth  of  what  I  say — George 
de  Croisenois,  I  love  you." 

The  young  man  uttered  an  exclamation  of  delight 
upon  hearing  this  news. 

"  Yes,"  continued  Marie,  "  I  would  give  half  the 
years  of  my  remaining  life  to  be  your  wife.  Yes, 
George,  I  love  you ;  but  the  voice  of  duty  speaks  louder 
than  the  whispers  of  the  heart.  I  may  die  of  grief,  but 
there  will  be  no  stain  upon  my  marriage  robe,  no  re- 
morse eating  out  my  heart.    Farewell !  " 


HUSBAND    AND   LOVER  i8i 

But  the  Marquis  would  not  consent  to  this  immedi- 
ate dismissal,  and  appeared  to  be  about  to  speak. 

"  Go !  "  said  the  Duchess,  with  an  air  of  command. 
"  Leave  me  at  once !  "  Then,  as  he  made  no  effort  to 
obey  her,  she  went  on,  "If  you  really  love  me,  let  my 
honor  be  as  dear  to  you  as  your  own,  and  never  try  to 
see  me  again.  The  peril  we  are  now  in  shows  how  nec- 
essary this  last  determination  of  mine  is.  I  am  the 
Duchess  de  Champdoce,  and  I  will  keep  the  name  that 
has  been  intrusted  to  me  pure  and  unsullied,  nor  will  I 
stoop  to  treachery  or  deception." 

"  Why  do  you  use  the  word  deception  ?  "  asked  he. 
"  I  do,  it  is  true,  despise  the  woman  who  smiles  upon 
the  husband  she  is  betraying,  but  I  respect  and  honor 
the  woman  who  risks  all  to  follow  the  fortunes  of  the 
man  she  loves.  Lay  aside,  Marie,  name,  title,  fortune, 
and  fly  with  me." 

"  I  love  you  too  much,  George,"  answered  she 
gently,  "  to  ruin  your  future,  for  the  day  would  surely 
come  when  you  would  regret  all  your  self-denial,  for  a 
woman  weighed  down  with  a  sense  of  her  dishonor  is 
a  heavy  burden  for  a  man  to  bear." 

George  de  Croisenois  did  not  understand  her  thor- 
oughly. 

"  You  do  not  trust  me,"  said  he.  "  You  would 
be  dishonored.  Shall  I  not  share  a  portion  of  the 
world's  censure?  And,  if  you  wish  me,  I  will  be  a 
dishonored  man  also.  To-night  I  will  cheat  at  play  at 
the  club,  be  detected,  and  leave  the  room  an  outcast 
from  the  society  of  all  honorable  men  for  the  future. 
Fly  with  me  to  some  distant  land,  and  we  will  live  hap- 
pily under  whatever  name  you  may  choose." 

"  I  must  not  listen  to  you,"  cried  she  wildly.  "  It  is 
impossible  now." 


i82         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

"  Impossible ! — and  why  ?    Tell  me,  I  entreat  you," 

"  Ah,  George,"  sobbed  she,  "  if  you  only  knew " 

He  placed  his  arm  around  her  waist,  and  was  about 
to  press  his  lips  on  that  fair  brow,  when  all  at  once  he 
felt  Marie  shiver  in  his  clasp,  and,  raising  one  of  her 
arms,  point  towards  the  door,  which  had  opened 
silently  during  their  conversation,  and  upon  the  thresh- 
old of  which  stood  Norbert  de  Champdoce,  gloomy  and 
threatening. 

The  Marquis  saw  in  an  instant  the  terrible  position 
in  which  his  insensate  folly  had  placed  the  woman  he 
loved. 

"  Do  not  come  any  nearer,"  said  he,  addressing  Nor- 
bert ;  "  remain  where  you  are." 

A  bitter  laugh  from  the  Duke  made  him  realize  the 
folly  of  his  command.  He  supported  the  Duchess  to  a 
couch,  and  seated  her  upon  it.  She  recovered  con- 
sciousness almost  immediately,  and,  as  she  opened  her 
eyes,  George  read  in  them  the  most  perfect  forgiveness 
for  the  man  who  had  ruined  her  life  and  hopes. 

This  look,  and  the  fond  assurance  conveyed  in  it,  re- 
stored all  George's  coolness  and  self-possession,  and  he 
turned  towards  Norbert. 

"  However  compromising  appearances  may  seem,  I 
am  the  only  one  deserving  punishment;  the  Duchess 
has  nothing  to  reproach  herself  with  in  any  way ;  it  was 
without  her  knowledge,  and  without  any  encourage- 
ment from  her,  that  I  dared  to  enter  this  house,  know- 
ing as  I  did  that  the  servants  were  all  absent." 

Norbert,  however,  still  maintained  the  same  gloomy 
silence.  He  too  had  need  to  collect  his  thoughts.  As 
he  ascended  the  stairs  he  knew  that  he  should  find  the 
Duchess  with  a  lover,  but  he  had  not  calculated  upon 
that  lover  being  George  de  Croisenois,  a  man  whom  he 


HUSBAND    AND   LOVER  183 

loathed  and  detested  more  than  any  one  that  he  was 
in  the  habit  of  meeting  in  society.  When  he  recog- 
nized George,  it  was  with  the  utmost  difficulty  that 
he  restrained  himself  from  springing  upon  him  and 
endeavoring  to  strangle  him.  He  had  suspected  this 
man  of  having  gained  Diana's  aflfections,  and  now  he 
found  him  in  the  character  of  the  lover  of  his  wife,  and 
he  was  silent  simply  because  he  had  not  yet  made  up 
his  mind  what  he  would  say.  If  his  face  was  out- 
wardly calm  and  rigid  as  marble,  while  the  flames  of 
hell  were  raging  in  his  heart,  it  was  because  his  limbs 
for  the  moment  refused  to  obey  his  will ;  but,  in  spite 
of  this,  Norbert  was,  for  the  time,  literally  insane. 

Croisenois  folded  his  arms,  and  continued, — 

"  I  had  only  just  come  here  at  the  moment  of  your 
arrival.  Why  were  you  not  here  to  listen  to  all  that 
passed  between  us?  Would  to  heaven  that  you  had 
been !  then  you  would  have  understood  all  the  grandeur 
and  nobility  of  your  wife's  soul.  I  admit  the  magni- 
tude of  my  fault,  but  I  am  at  your  service,  and  am 
prepared  to  give  you  the  satisfaction  that  you  will 
doubtless  demand." 

"  From  your  words,"  answered  Norbert  slowly,  "  I 
presume  that  you  allude  to  a  duel ;  that  is  to  say,  that 
having  effected  my  dishonor  to-night,  you  purpose  to 
kill  me  to-morrow  morning.  In  the  game  that  you 
have  been  playing  a  man  stakes  his  life,  and  you,  I 
think,  have  lost." 

Croisenois  bowed.  "  I  am  a  dead  man,"  thought  he 
as  he  glanced  towards  the  Duchess,  "  and  not  for  your 
sake,  but  on  account  of  quite  another  woman." 

The  sound  of  his  own  voice  excited  Norbert,  and  he 
went  on  more  rapidly :  "  What  need  have  I  to  risk  my 
life  in  a  duel?    I  come  to  my  own  home,  I  find  you 


i84         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

with  my  wife,  I  blow  out  your  brains,  and  the  law 
will  exonerate  me."  As  he  said  these  last  words,  he 
drew  a  revolver  from  his  pocket  and  levelled  it  at 
George.  The  moment  was  an  intensely  exciting  one, 
but  Croisenois  did  not  show  any  sign  of  emotion,  Nor- 
bert  did  not  press  the  trigger,  and  the  suspense  became 
more  than  could  be  borne. 

"  Fire !  "  cried  George,  "  fire !  " 

"  No,"  returned  Norbert  coldly ;  "  on  reflection  I 
have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  your  dead  body  would 
be  a  source  of  extreme  inconvenience  to  me." 

"  You  try  my  forbearance  too  far.  What  are  your 
intentions  ?  " 

"  I  mean  to  kill  you,"  answered  Norbert  in  such  a 
voice  of  concentrated  ferocity  that  George  shuddered 
in  spite  of  all  his  courage,  "  but  it  shall  not  be  with  a 
pistol  shot.  It  is  said  that  blood  will  wash  out  any 
stain,  but  it  is  false ;  for  even  if  all  yours  is  shed,  it  will 
not  remove  the  stain  from  my  escutcheon.  One  of  us 
must  vanish  from  the  face  of  the  earth  in  such  a  man- 
ner that  no  trace  of  him  may  remain." 

"  I  agree.    Show  me  how  this  is  to  be  done." 

"  I  know  a  method,"  answered  Norbert.  "  If  I  was 
certain  that  no  human  being  was  aware  of  your  pres- 
ence here  to-night " 

"  No  one  can  possibly  know  it." 

"  Then,"  answered  the  Duke,  "  instead  of  taking  ad- 
vantage of  the  rights  that  the  law  gives  me  and  shoot- 
ing you  down  on  the  spot,  I  will  consent  to  risk  my 
life  against  yours." 

George  de  Croisenois  breathed  a  sigh  of  relief.  "  I 
am  ready,"  replied  he,  "  as  I  before  told  you." 

"  I  heard  you ;  but  remember  that  this  will  be  no 


HUSBAND    AND   LOVER  185 

ordinary  duel,  in  the  light  of  day,  with  seconds  to  regu- 
late the  manner  of  our  conduct." 

"  We  will  fight  exactly  as  you  wish." 

"  In  that  case,  I  name  swords  as  the  weapons,  the 
garden  as  the  spot,  and  this  instant  as  the  hour." 

The  Marquis  cast  a  glance  at  the  window. 

"  You  think,"  observed  Norbert,  comprehending  his 
look,  "  that  the  night  is  so  dark  that  we  cannot  see  the 
blades  of  our  swords  ?  " 

"  Quite  so." 

"  You  need  not  fear ;  there  will  be  light  enough  for 
the  death  struggle  of  the  one  who  remains  in  the  gar- 
den, for  you  understand  that  one  will  remain." 

"  I  understand  you ;  shall  we  go  down  at  once  ?  " 

Norbert  shook  his  head  in  the  negative. 

"  You  are  in  too  great  a  hurry,"  said  he,  "  and  have 
not  given  me  the  time  to  fix  my  conditions." 

"  I  am  listening." 

"  At  the  end  of  the  garden  there  is  a  small  plot  of 
ground,  so  damp  that  nothing  will  grow  there,  and 
consequently  is  almost  unfrequented;  but  for  all  that 
it  is  thither  that  you  must  follow  me.  We  will  each 
take  spade  and  pick-axe,  and  in  a  very  brief  period 
we  can  hollow  out  a  receptacle  for  the  body  of  the 
one  who  falls.  When  this  work  is  completed,  we  will 
take  to  our  swords  and  fight  to  the  death,  and  the  one 
who  can  keep  his  feet  shall  finish  his  fallen  adver- 
sary, drag  his  body  to  the  hole,  and  shovel  the  earth 
over  his  remains." 

"  Never  !  "  exclaimed  Croisenois.  "  Never  will  I 
agree  to  such  barbarous  terms." 

"  Have  a  care  then,"  returned  Norbert ;  "  for  I  shall 
use  my  rights.    That  clock  points  to  five  minutes  to 


i86         THE    CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

eleven.  If,  when  it  strikes,  you  have  not  decided 
to  accept  my  terms,  I  shall  fire." 

The  barrel  of  the  revolver  was  but  a  few  inches 
from  George  de  Croisenois'  heart,  and  the  finger  of 
his  most  inveterate  enemy  was  curved  round  the  trig- 
ger; but  his  feelings  had  been  so  highly  wrought  up 
that  he  thought  not  of  this  danger.  He  only  remem- 
bered that  he  had  four  minutes  in  which  to  make  up 
his  mind.  The  events  of  the  last  thirty  minutes  had 
pressed  upon  each  other's  heels  with  such  surprising 
alacrity  that  he  could  hardly  believe  that  they  had 
really  occurred,  and  it  seemed  to  him  as  if  it  might 
not,  after  all,  be  only  a  hideous  vision  of  the 
night. 

"  You  have  only  two  minutes  more,"  remarked  the 
Duke. 

Croisenois  started;  his  soul  was  far  away  from  the 
terrible  present.  He  glanced  at  the  clock,  then  at  his 
enemy,  and  lastly  at  Marie,  who  lay  upon  the  couch, 
and  from  her  ashen  complexion  might  have  been  re- 
garded as  dead,  save  for  the  hysterical  sobs  which  con- 
vulsed her  frame.  He  felt  that  it  was  impossible  to 
leave  her  in  such  a  condition  without  aid  of  any  kind, 
but  he  saw  well  that  any  show  of  pity  on  his  part 
would  only  aggravate  his  offence.  "  Heaven  have 
mercy  on  us !  "  muttered  he.  "  We  are  at  the  mercy 
of  a  maniac,"  and  with  a  feeling  of  deadly  fear  he 
asked  himself  what  would  be  the  fate  of  this  woman, 
whom  he  loved  so  devotedly,  were  he  to  die.  "  For 
her  sake,"  he  thought,  "  I  must  slay  this  man,  or  her 
life  will  be  one  endless  existence  of  torture — and  slay 
him  I  will." 

"  I  accept  your  terms,"  said  he  aloud. 

He  spoke  just  in  time,  for  as  the  words  were  ut- 


HUSBAND    AND   LOVER  187 

tered  came  the  whirr  of  the  machinery  and  then  the 
first  clear  stroke  of  the  bell. 

"  I  thank  you,"  answered  Norbert  coldly  as  he  low- 
ered the  muzzle  of  his  revolver. 

The  icy  frigidity  of  manner  in  a  period  of  extreme 
danger,  which  is  the  marked  characteristic  of  a  cer- 
tain type  of  education,  had  now  vanished  from  the 
Marquis's  tone  and  behavior. 

"  But  that  is  not  all,"  he  continued ;  "  I,  too,  have 
certain  conditions  to  propose." 

"  But  we  agreed " 

"  Let  me  explain :  we  are  going  to  fight  in  the 
dark  in  your  garden  without  seconds.  We  are  to  dig 
a  grave  and  the  survivor  is  to  bury  his  dead  antag- 
onist.   Tell  me,  am  I  right  ?  " 

Norbert  bowed. 

"  But,"  went  on  the  Marquis,  "  how  can  you  be 
certain  that  all  will  end  here,  and  that  the  earth  will 
be  content  to  retain  our  secret?  You  do  not  know, 
and  you  do  not  seem  to  care,  that  if  one  day  the  se- 
cret should  be  disclosed  and  the  survivor  accused  of 
being  the  murderer  of  the  other,  arrested,  dragged 
before  a  tribunal,  condemned,  and  sent  to  a  life-long 
prison " 

"  There  is  a  chance  of  that,  of  course." 

"  And  do  you  think  that  I  will  consent  to  run  such  a 
risk  as  that  ?  " 

"  There  is  such  a  risk,  of  course,"  answered  Nor- 
bert phlegmatically ;  "  but  that  will  be  an  incentive  for 
you  to  conceal  my  death  as  I  should  conceal  yours." 

"  That  will  not  be  sufficient  for  me,"  returned  De 
Croisenois. 

"  Ah !  take  care,"  sneered  Norbert,  "  or  I  shall  be- 
gin to  think  that  you  are  afraid." 


i88         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

"  1  am  afraid ;  that  is,  afraid  of  being  called  a  mur- 
derer." 

"  That  is  a  danger  to  which  I  am  equally  liable 
with  yourself." 

Croisenois,  however,  was  fully  determined  to  carry 
his  point.  "  You  say,"  continued  he,  "  that  our  chances 
are  equal ;  but  if  I  fall,  who  would  dream  of  searching 
here  for  my  remains?  You  are  in  your  own  house 
and  can  take  every  precaution;  but  suppose,  on  the 
other  hand,  I  kill  you.  Shall  I  look  to  the  Duchess  to 
assist  me  ?  Will  not  the  finger  of  suspicion  be  pointed 
at  her  ?  Shall  she  say  to  her  gardener  when  all  Paris 
is  hunting  for  you,  '  Mind  that  you  do  not  meddle 
with  the  piece  of  land  at  the  end  of  the  garden.'  " 

The  thought  of  the  anonymous  letter  crossed  Nor- 
bert's  mind,  and  he  remembered  that  the  writer  of  it 
must  be  acquainted  with  the  coming  of  George  de 
Croisenois.    "  What  do  you  propose  then  ?  "  asked  he. 

"  Merely  that  each  of  us,  without  stating  the 
grounds  of  our  quarrel,  write  down  the  conditions 
and  sign  our  names  as  having  accepted  them." 

"  I  agree ;  but  use  dispatch." 

The  two  men,  after  the  conditions  had  been  sub- 
scribed, wrote  two  letters,  dated  from  a  foreign  coun- 
try, and  the  survivor  of  the  combat  was  to  post  his 
dead  adversary's  letter,  which  would  not  fail  to  stop 
any  search  after  the  vanished  man.  When  this  talk 
was  concluded,  Norbert  rose  to  his  feet. 

"  One  word  in  conclusion,"  said  he :  "a  soldier  is 
leading  the  horse  on  which  I  rode  here  up  and  down  in 
the  Place  des  Invalides.  If  you  kill  me,  go  and  take 
the  horse  from  the  man,  giving  him  the  twenty  francs 
I  promised  him." 

"  I  will." 


BLADE   TO   BLADE  189 

"  Now  let  us  go  down." 

They  left  the  room  together.  Norbert  was  step- 
ping aside  to  permit  Croisenois  to  descend  the  stairs 
first,  when  he  felt  his  coat  gently  pulled,  and,  turn- 
ing round,  saw  that  the  Duchess,  too  weak  to  rise  to 
her  feet,  had  crawled  to  him  on  her  knees.  The  un- 
happy woman  had  heard  everything,  and  in  an  almost 
inaudible  voice  she  uttered  an  agonized  prayer: 

"  Mercy,  Norbert  I  have  mercy !  I  swear  to  you 
that  I  am  guiltless.  You  never  loved  me ;  why  should 
you  fight  for  me?  Have  pity!  To-morrow,  by  all 
that  I  hold  sacred,  I  swear  to  you  that  I  will  enter  a 
convent,  and  you  shall  never  see  my  face  again.  Have 
pity ! " 

"  Pray  heaven,  madame,  that  it  may  be  your  lover's 
sword  that  pierces  my  heart.  It  is  your  only  hope,  for 
then  you  will  be  free." 

He  tore  his  coat  from  her  fingers  with  brutal  violence, 
and  the  unhappy  woman  fell  to  the  floor  with  a  shriek 
as  he  closed  the  door  upon  her,  and  followed  his  an- 
tagonist downstairs. 


CHAPTER  XVIL 

BLADE    TO    BLADE. 

Several  times  in  the  course  of  this  interview  Nor- 
bert de  Champdoce  had  been  on  the  point  of  burst- 
ing into  a  furious  passion,  but  he  restrained  himself 
from  a  motive  of  self-pride ;  but  now  that  his  wife 
was  no  longer  present,  he  showed  a  savage  intensity 
of  purpose  and  a  deadly  earnestness  that  was  abso- 


iQo         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

lutely  appalling.  As  he  followed  Croisenois  down 
the  great  staircase,  he  kept  repeating  the  words, 
"  Quick !  quick  !  we  have  lost  too  much  time  already  ;" 
for  he  saw  that  a  mere  trifle  might  upset  all  his 
plans — such  as  a  servant  returning  home  before  the 
others.  When  they  reached  the  ground-floor,  he  led 
George  into  a  by-room  which  looked  like  an  armory, 
so  filled  was  it  with  arms  of  all  kinds  and  nations. 

"  Here,"  said  he,  with  a  bitter  sneer,  "  we  can  find, 
I  think,  what  we  want";  and  placing  the  candle  he 
carried  on  the  mantelpiece,  he  leaped  upon  the  cush- 
ioned seat  that  ran  round  the  room,  and  took  down 
from  the  wall  several  pairs  of  duelling  swords,  and, 
throwing  them  upon  the  floor,  exclaimed,  "  Choose 
your  own  weapon." 

George  was  as  anxious  as  Norbert  to  bring  this 
painful  scene  to  a  close,  for  anything  was  preferable 
to  this  hideous  state  of  suspense.  The  last  despair- 
ing glance  of  the  Duchess  had  pierced  his  heart  like 
a  dagger  thrust,  and  when  he  saw  Norbert  thrust 
aside  his  trembling  wife  with  such  brutality,  it  was 
all  that  he  could  do  to  refrain  from  striking  him  down. 
He  made  no  choice  of  weapons,  but  grasped  the  near- 
est, saying, — 

"  One  will  do  as  well  as  another." 

"  We  cannot  fight  in  this  darkness,"  said  Norbert, 
"but  I  have  a  means  to  remedy  that.  Come  with 
me  this  way,  so  that  we  may  avoid  the  observation  of 
the  porter." 

They  went  into  the  stables,  where  he  took  up  a  large 
lantern,  which  he  lighted. 

"  This,"  said  he,  "  will  aflford  ample  light  for  our 
work." 

"  Ah,  but  the  neighbors  will  see  it,  too ;  and  at  this 


BLADE    TO    BLADE  191 

hour  a  light  in  the  garden  is  sure  to  attract  atten- 
tion," observed  George. 

"  Don't  be  afraid ;  my  grounds  are  not  over- 
looked." 

They  entered  the  garden,  and  soon  reached  the  spot 
to  which  the  Duke  had  alluded.  Norbert  hung  the 
lantern  on  the  bough  of  a  tree,  and  it  gave  the  same 
amount  of  light  as  an  ordinary  street  lamp, 

"  We  will  dig  the  grave  in  that  corner,"  observed 
he ;  "  and  when  it  is  filled  in,  we  can  cover  it  with 
that  heap  of  stones  over  there." 

He  threw  oflf  his  great  coat,  and,  handing  a  spade  to 
Croisenois,  took  another  himself,  repeating  firmly  the 
words, — 

"  To  work !  to  work !  " 

Croisenois  would  have  toiled  all  night  before  he 
could  have  completed  the  task,  but  the  muscles  of  the 
Duke  were  hardened  by  his  former  laborious  life, 
and  in  forty  minutes  all  was  ready. 

"  That  will  do,"  said  Norbert,  exchanging  his  spade 
for  a  sword.    "  Take  your  guard." 

Croisenois,  however,  did  not  immediately  obey. 
Impressible  by  nature,  he  felt  a  cold  shiver  run  through 
his  frame ;  the  dark  night,  the  flickering  lantern,  and 
all  these  preparations,  made  in  so  cold-blooded  a  man- 
ner, affected  his  nerves.  The  grave,  with  its  yawn- 
ing mouth,  fascinated  him. 

"  Well,"  said  Norbert  impatiently,  "  are  you  not 
ready?" 

"  I  will  speak,"  exclaimed  De  Croisenois,  driven 
to  desperation.  "  In  a  few  minutes  one  of  us  two  will 
be  lying  dead  on  this  spot.  In  the  presence  of  death 
a  man's  words  are  to  be  relied  on.  Listen  to  me.  I 
swear  to  you,  on  my  honor  and  by  all  my  hopes  of  fu- 


192         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

ture  salvation,  that  the  Duchess  de  Champdoce  is  en- 
tirely free  from  guilt." 

"  You  have  said  that  before ;  why  repeat  it  again  ?  " 

"  Because  it  is  my  duty ;  because  I  am  thinking 
that,  if  I  die,  it  will  be  my  insane  passions  that  have 
caused  the  ruin  of  one  of  the  best  and  purest  women 
in  the  world.  I  entreat  you  to  believe  that  she  has 
nothing  to  repent  of.  See,  I  am  not  ashamed  to  de- 
scend to  entreaty.  Let  my  death,  if  you  kill  me,  be 
an  expiation  for  everything.  Be  gentle  with  your 
wife;  and  if  you  survive  me,  do  not  make  her  life 
one  prolonged  existence  of  agony." 

"  Silence,  or  I  shall  look  upon  you  as  a  dastard," 
returned  Norbert  fiercely. 

"  Miserable  fool !  "  said  De  Croisenois.  "  On  guard, 
then,  and  may  heaven  decide  the  issue ! " 

There  was  a  sharp  clash  as  their  swords  crossed, 
and  the  combat  began  with  intense  vigor. 

The  space  upon  which  the  rays  of  the  lantern  cast 
a  glimmering  and  uncertain  light  was  but  a  small 
one ;  and  while  one  of  the  combatants  was  in  complete 
shade  the  other  was  in  the  light,  and  exposed  to  thrusts 
which  he  could  not  see.  This  was  fatal  to  Croisenois, 
and,  as  he  took  a  step  forward,  Norbert  made  a  fierce 
lunge  which  pierced  him  to  the  heart. 

The  unfortunate  man  threw  up  his  arms  above  his 
head ;  his  sword  escaping  from  his  nerveless  fingers 
and  his  knees  bending  under  him,  he  fell  heavily 
backwards  without  a  word  escaping  from  his  lips. 
Thrice  he  endeavored  to  regain  his  feet,  and  thrice  he 
failed  in  his  attempts.  He  strove  to  speak,  but  he 
could  only  utter  a  few  unintelligible  words,  for  his 
life  blood  was  suffocating  him.  A  violent  convul- 
sion shook  every  limb,  then  arose  a  long,  deep-drawn 


BLADE   TO    BLADE  193 

sigh,  and  then  silence — George  de  Croisenois  was 
dead. 

Yes,  he  was  dead,  and  Norbert  de  Champdoce  stood 
over  him  with  a  wild  look  of  terror  in  his  eyes,  and  his 
hair  bristhng  upon  his  head,  as  a  shudder  of  horror 
convulsed  his  body.  Then,  for  the  first  time,  he  real- 
ized the  horror  of  seeing  a  man  slain  by  his  own  hand ; 
and  yet  what  affected  Norbert  most  was  not  that 
he  had  killed  George  de  Croisenois — for  he  believed 
that  justice  was  on  his  side  and  that  he  could  not  have 
acted  otherwise — ^but  the  perspiration  stood  in  thick 
beads  upon  his  forehead,  as  he  thought  that  he  must 
raise  up  that  still  warm  and  quivering  body,  and 
place  it  in  its  unhallowed  grave. 

He  hesitated  and  reasoned  with  himself  for  some 
time,  going  over  all  the  reasons  that  made  dispatch 
so  absolutely  necessary — the  risk  of  detection,  and 
the  honor  of  his  name. 

He  stooped  and  prepared  to  raise  it,  but  recoiled 
again  before  his  hands  had  touched  the  body.  His 
heart  failed  him,  and  once  more  he  assumed  an  erect 
position.  At  last  he  nerved  himself,  grasped  the  body, 
and,  with  an  immense  exertion  of  strength,  hurled  it 
into  the  gaping  grave.  It  fell  with  a  dull,  heavy 
sound  which  seemed  to  Norbert  like  the  roar  of  an 
earthquake.  The  violent  emotions  which  he  had  en- 
dured had  ended  by  acting  on  his  brain,  and,  snatch- 
ing up  the  spade  which  his  late  antagonist  had  used 
with  so  unpracticed  a  hand,  shovelled  the  earth  upon 
the  body,  flattened  down  the  ground,  and  finally  cov- 
ered it  with  straw  and  dead  leaves. 

"  And  this  is  the  end  of  a  man  who  wronged  a 
Champdoce;  yes,  his  life  has  paid  the  penalty  of  his 
deed." 


194         THE   CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

All  at  once,  a  few  paces  off,  in  the  deep  shadow 
of  the  trees,  he  thought  that  he  detected  the  outline 
of  a  human  head  with  a  pair  of  glittering  eyes  fixed 
upon  him.  The  shock  was  so  terrible  that  for  an  in- 
stant he  stopped  and  nearly  fell,  but  he  quickly  re- 
covered himself,  and,  snatching  up  his  blood-stained 
sword,  he  dashed  to  the  spot  where  he  fancied  he  had 
seen  this  terrible  witness  of  his  deed. 

At  this  rapid  movement  on  the  part  of  the  Duke, 
a  figure  started  up  with  a  faint  cry  for  mercy.  It 
was  a  woman. 

She  fled  with  inconceivable  swiftness  towards  the 
house,  but  he  caught  her  just  as  she  had  gained  the 
steps. 

"  Have  mercy  on  me !  "  cried  she.  "  Do  not  murder 
me!" 

He  dragged  her  back  to  where  the  lantern  was 
hanging.  She  was  a  girl  of  about  eighteen  years  of 
age,  ugly,  badly  clothed,  and  dirty  looking.  Nor- 
bert  looked  earnestly  at  her,  but  could  not  say  who 
she  was,  though  he  was  certain  that  he  had  seen  her 
face  somewhere. 

"  Who  are  you  ?  "  asked  he. 

She  burst  into  a  flood  of  tears,  but  made  no  other 
reply. 

"  Come,"  resumed  he,  in  more  soothing  accents ; 
"  you  shall  not  be  hurt.    Tell  me  who  you  are." 

"  Caroline  Schimmel." 

"  Caroline  ?  "  repeated  he. 

"  Yes.  I  have  been  in  your  service  as  scullery 
maid  for  the  last  three  months." 

"  How  is  it  that  you  did  not  go  to  the  wedding 
with  the  rest  of  them  ?  " 

"  It  was  not  my  fault.     I  was  asked,  and  I  did  so 


AT  LAST  HE  NERVED  HIMSELF,   GRASPED  THE  BODY,   AND  HURLED  IT 
INTO  THE   GAPING   GRAVE 


BLADE   TO    BLADE  195 

long  to  go,  but  I  was  too  shabby;  I  had  no  finery  to 
put  on.  I  am  very  poor  now,  for  I  have  only  fifteen 
francs  a  month,  and  none  of  the  other  maids  would 
lend  me  anything  to  wear." 

"  How  did  you  come  into  the  garden?"  asked  Nor- 
bert. 

"  I  was  very  miserable,  and  was  sitting  in  the  gar- 
ret crying,  when  I  suddenly  saw  a  light  down  there. 
I  thought  it  was  theirs,  and  crept  down  the  back 
stairs." 

"  And  what  did  you  see  ?  " 

"  I  saw  it  all." 

"All  what?" 

"  When  I  got  down  here,  you  and  the  other  were 
digging.  I  thought  you  were  looking  for  money ! 
but  ah,  dear  me !  I  was  wrong.  Then  the  other  be- 
gan to  say  something,  but  I  couldn't  catch  a  word; 
then  you  fought.  Oh,  it  was  awful !  I  was  so  fright- 
ened, I  could  not  take  my  eyes  off  you.  Then  the 
other  fell  down  on  his  back." 

"  And  then  ?  " 

"  Then,"  she  faltered,  "  you  buried  him,  and  then 


"Could  you  recognize  this — this  other?" 

"Yes,  my  lord  duke,  I  did." 

"  Had  you  ever  seen  him  before  ?  Do  you  know 
who  he  was  ?  " 

"  No." 

"  Listen  to  me,  my  girl.  If  you  know  how  to  hold 
your  tongue,  if  you  can  forget  all  you  have  seen  to- 
night, it  will  be  the  greatest  piece  of  luck  for  you 
in  the  world  that  you  did  not  go  to  this  wedding." 

"  I  won't  open  my  lips  to  a  soul,  my  lord  duke. 
Hear  me  swear,  I  won't.    Oh,  do  believe  me  1 " 


196         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

"  Very  well ;  keep  your  oath,  and  your  fortune  is 
made.  To-morrow  I  will  give  you  a  fine,  large  sum 
of  money,  and  you  can  go  back  to  your  village  and 
marry  some  honest  fellow  to  whom  you  have  taken  a 
fancy." 

"  Are  you  not  making  game  of  me  ?  " 

"  No ;  go  to  your  room  and  go  to  bed,  as  if  nothing 
had  happened.  Jean  will  tell  you  what  to  do  to-mor- 
row, and  you  must  obey  him  as  you  would  me." 

"  Oh,  my  lord !  oh,  my  lord  duke !  " 

Unable  to  contain  her  delight,  she  mingled  her 
laughter  and  her  tears. 

And  Norbert  knew  that  his  name,  his  honor,  and 
perhaps  his  life  were  in  the  hands  of  a  wretched  girl 
like  this.  All  the  peace  and  happiness  of  his  life  were 
gone,  and  he  felt  like  some  unhappy  prisoner  who 
through  the  bars  of  his  dungeon  sees  his  jailer's  chil- 
dren sporting  with  lighted  matches  and  a  barrel  of 
gunpowder.  He  was  at  her  mercy,  for  well  he  knew 
that  it  would  resolve  into  this — ^that  the  smallest  wish 
of  this  girl  would  become  an  imperative  command 
that  he  dared  not  disobey.  However  absurd  might  be 
her  whims  and  caprices,  she  had  but  to  express  them, 
and  he  dared  not  resist.  What  means  could  he  adopt 
to  free  himself  from  this  odious  state  of  servitude? 
He  knew  but  of  one — the  dead  tell  no  tales.  There 
were  four  persons  who  were  the  sharers  of  Norbert's 
secret.  First,  the  writer  of  the  anonymous  letter; 
then  the  Duchess;  then  Caroline  Schimmel;  and,  fi- 
nally, Jean,  to  whom  he  must  confide  all.  With  these 
thoughts  ringing  through  his  brain,  Norbert  carefully 
effaced  the  last  traces  of  the  duel,  and  then  bent  his 
steps  towards  his  wife's  chamber. 

He  had  expected  to  find  her  still  unconscious  on  the 


BLADE   TO   BLADE  197 

spot  where  he  had  left  her  lying.  Marie  was  seated 
in  an  armchair  by  the  side  of  the  fire ;  her  face  was 
terribly  pale,  and  her  eyes  sparkling  with  the  inward 
flame  that  consumed  her. 

"  My  honor  has  been  vindicated ;  the  Marquis  de 
Croisenois  is  no  more;  I  have  slain  your  lover,  ma- 
dame." 

Marie  did  not  start;  she  had  evidently  prepared 
herself  for  this  blow.  Her  face  assumed  a  more 
proud  and  disdainful  expression,  and  the  hght  in  her 
dark  eyes  grew  brighter  and  brighter. 

"  You  are  wrong,"  said  she,  "  M.  de  Croisenois 
was  not  my  lover." 

"  You  need  no  longer  take  the  pains  to  lie ;  I  ask 
nothing  now." 

Marie's  utter  calmness  jarred  inexpressibly  upon 
Norbert's  exasperated  frame  of  mind.  He  would 
have  given  much  to  change  this  mood  of  hers,  which 
he  could  not  at  all  understand.  But  in  vain  did  he 
say  the  most  cutting  things,  and  coupled  them  with 
bitter  taunts,  for  she  had  reached  a  pitch  of  exalta- 
tion far  above  his  sarcasms  and  abuse. 

"  I  am  not  lying,"  answered  she  frigidly.  "  What 
should  I  gain  by  it?  What  more  have  I  to  gain  in 
this  world  ?  You  desire  to  learn  the  truth ;  here  it  is 
then :  It  was  with  my  knowledge  and  permission  that 
George  was  here  to-night.  He  came  because  I  had 
asked  him  to  do  so,  and  I  left  the  gate  in  the  garden 
wall  open,  so  as  to  facilitate  his  entrance.  He  had 
not  been  more  than  five  minutes  in  your  room  when 
you  arrived,  and  he  had  never  been  there  before.  It 
would  have  been  easy  for  me  to  have  left  you ;  but 
as  I  bear  your  name,  I  could  not  dishonor  it.  As  you 
entered,  he  was  entreating  me  to  fly  with  him ;  both  his 


iqs      the  champdoce  mystery 

life  and  his  honor  were  in  my  hands.  Ah,  why  did 
I  pause  for  an  instant?  Had  I  consented,  he  would 
still  have  been  alive,  and  in  some  far  distant  country 
he  and  I  might  have  learned  that  this  world  has  some- 
thing more  to  offer  than  unhappiness  and  misery. 
Yes,  as  you  will  have  it,  you  shall  have  all.  I  loved 
him  ere  I  knew  that  you  even  existed.  I  have  only 
my  own  folly  to  blame,  only  my  own  unhappy  weak- 
ness to  deplore.  Why  did  I  not  steadily  refuse  to  be- 
come your  wife?  You  say  that  you  have  slain 
George.  Not  so,  for  in  my  heart  his  memory  will 
ever  remain  bright  and  ineffaceable." 

"  Beware ! "  said    Norbert    furiously,    "  beware    if 


"  Ah,  would  you  kill  me,  too  ?  Do  not  fear  resist- 
ance ;  my  life  is  a  blank  without  him.  He  is  dead ;  let 
death  come  to  me;  it  would  be  a  welcome  visitant. 
The  only  kindness  that  you  could  now  bestow  upon 
me  would  be  my  death-blow.  Strike  then,  and  end 
it  all !  In  death  we  should  be  united,  George  and  I ; 
and  as  my  limbs  grew  stiff  and  my  breath  passed  away, 
my  whitening  lips  would  murmur  words  of  thanks." 

Norbert  listened  to  her,  overwhelmed  by  the  inten- 
sity of  her  passion,  and  marvelling  that  he  had  any 
power  to  feel  after  the  terrible  event  which  had  fallen 
upon  his  devoted  head. 

Could  this  be  Marie,  the  soft  and  gentle  woman, 
who  spoke  with  such  passionate  vehemence  and  boldly 
braved  his  anger?  How  could  he  have  so  misunder- 
stood her?  He  forgot  all  his  anger  in  his  admira- 
tion. She  seemed  to  him  to  have  undergone  a  com- 
plete change.  There  was  an  unearthly  style  of  beauty 
around  her — her  eyes  blazed  and  shone  with  the  lurid 
light  of  a  far-distant  planet,  while  her  wealth  of  raven 


BLADE   TO   BLADE  199 

hair  fell  in  disordered  masses  on  her  shoulders.  It 
was  passion,  real  passion,  that  he  beheld  to-night,  not 
that  mere  empty  delusion  which  he  had  so  long  fol- 
lowed blindly.  Marie  was  really  capable  of  a  deep- 
rooted  feeling  of  adoration  for  the  man  she  loved, 
while  with  Diana  de  Mussidan,  the  woman  with  the 
fair  hair  and  the  steel-blue  eyes,  love  was  but  the  lust 
of  conquest,  or  the  desire  to  jeer  at  a  suitor's  earnest- 
ness. Ah,  what  a  revelation  had  been  made  to  him 
now!  and  what  would  he  not  have  given  to  have 
wiped  out  the  past !  He  advanced  towards  her  with 
outstretched  arms. 

"  Marie !  "  said  he,  "  Marie !  " 

"  I  forbid  you  to  call  me  Marie ! "  shrieked  she 
wildly. 

He  made  no  reply,  but  still  advanced  towards  her, 
when,  with  a  terrible  cry,  she  recoiled  from  him. 

"  Blood !  "  she  screamed,  "  ah,  heavens !  he  has  blood 
upon  his  hands !  " 

Norbert  glanced  downwards;  upon  the  wristband 
of  his  shirt  there  was  a  tell-tale  crimson  stain. 

The  Duchess  raised  her  hand,  and  pointed  towards 
the  door. 

"  Leave  me,"  said  she,  with  an  extraordinary  as- 
sumption of  energy,  "  leave  me ;  the  secret  of  your 
crime  is  safe ;  I  will  not  betray  you  or  hand  you  over 
to  justice.  But  remember  that  a  murdered  man 
stands  between  us,  and  that  I  loathe  and  execrate 
you." 

Rage  and  jealousy  tortured  Norbert's  soul.  Though 
George  de  Croisenois  was  no  more,  he  was  still  his 
successful  rival  in  Marie's  love. 

"  You  forget,"  said  he  in  a  voice  hoarse  with  pas- 
sion, "  that  you  are  mine,  and  that,  as  your  husband. 


200         THE    CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

I  can  make  your  existence  one  long-  scene  of  agony 
and  misery.  Keep  this  fact  in  your  memory.  To- 
morrow, at  six  o'clock,  I  shall  be  here." 

The  clock  was  striking  two  as  he  left  the  house 
and  hastened  to  the  spot  where  he  had  left  his 
horse. 

The  soldier  was  still  pacing  backwards  and  for- 
wards, leading  the  Duke's  horse. 

"  My  faith !  "  said  the  man,  as  soon  as  he  perceived 
Norbert,  "  you  pay  precious  long  visits.  I  had  only 
leave  to  go  to  the  theatre,  and  I  shall  get  into  trouble 
over  this." 

"  Pshaw  !  I  promised  you  twenty  francs.  Here  are 
two  louis." 

The  soldier  pocketed  the  money  with  an  air  of  de- 
lighted surprise,  and  Norbert  sprang  into  the  saddle. 

An  hour  later  he  gave  the  appointed  signal  upon 
the  window  pane,  behind  which  the  trusty  Jean  was 
waiting. 

"  Take  care  that  no  one  sees  you  as  you  take  the 
horse  to  the  stable,"  said  the  Duke  hastily,  "  and  then 
come  to  me,  for  I  want  your  assistance  and  advice." 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THE     HEIR     OF     CHAMPDOCE. 

As  long  as  she  was  in  Norbert's  presence,  anger 
and  indignation  gave  the  Duchess  de  Champdoce 
strength ;  but  as  soon  as  she  was  left  alone  her  energy 
gave  way,  and  with  an  outburst  of  tears  she  sank, 
half  fainting,  upon  a  couch.  Her  despair  was  aug- 
mented from  the  fact  that  she  felt  that  had  it  not 


THE   HEIR   OF   CHAMPDOCE  201 

been  for  her,  George  de  Croisenois  would  never  have 
met  with  his  death. 

"  Had  I  not  made  that  fatal  appointment,"  she 
sobbed,  "  he  would  be  alive  and  well  now ;  my  love 
has  slain  him  as  surely  as  if  my  hand  had  held  the 
steel  that  has  pierced  his  heart ! " 

She  at  first  thought  of  seeking  refuge  with  her 
father,  but  abandoned  the  idea  almost  immediately, 
for  she  felt  that  he  would  refuse  to  enter  into  her 
grievance,  or  would  say,  "  You  are  a  duchess ;  you 
have  an  enormous  fortune.  You  must  be  happy;  and 
if  you  are  not,  it  must  be  your  own  fault." 

In  terrible  anguish  the  night  passed  away ;  and  when 
her  maids  entered  the  room,  they  found  her  lying  on 
the  floor,  dressed  as  she  had  been  the  night  before. 
No  one  knew  what  to  do,  and  messengers  were  dis- 
patched in  all  directions  to  summon  medical  advice. 

Norbert's  return  was  eagerly  welcomed  by  the  terri- 
fied domestics,  and  a  general  feeling  of  relief  per- 
vaded the  establishment. 

The  Duke  had  grown  very  uneasy  as  to. what  might 
have  happened  during  his  absence.  He  questioned 
the  servants  as  diplomatically  as  he  could;  and  while 
he  was  thus  engaged,  the  doctors  who  had  been  sum- 
moned arrived. 

After  seeing  their  patient,  they  did  not  for  a  mo- 
ment conceal  their  opinion  that  the  case  was  a  very 
serious  one,  and  that  it  was  possible  that  she  might  not 
survive  this  mysterious  seizure.  They  impressed  upon 
Norbert  the  necessity  of  the  Duchess  being  kept  per- 
fectly quiet  and  never  left  alone,  and  then  departed, 
promising  to  call  again  in  the  afternoon. 

Their  injunctions  were  unnecessary,  for  Norbert 
had  established  himself  by  his  wife's  bedside,  resolved 


202         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

not  to  quit  her  until  her  heaUh  was  re-established  or 
death  had  intervened  to  release  her  from  suffering. 
Fever  had  claimed  her  for  its  own,  and  in  her  de- 
lusion she  uttered  many  incoherent  ravings,  the  key 
to  which  Norbert  alone  held,  and  which  filled  his 
soul  with  dread  and  terror. 

This  was  the  second  time  that  Norbert  had  been 
compelled  to  watch  over  a  sick-bed,  guarding  within 
his  heart  a  terrible  secret.  At  Champdoce  he  had 
sat  by  his  father's  side,  who  could  have  revealed  the 
terrible  attempt  against  his  life;  and  now  it  was  his 
wife  that  he  was  keeping  a  watch  on,  lest  her  lips 
should  utter  the  horrible  secret  of  the  death  of  George 
de  Croisenois. 

Compelled  to  remain  by  his  wife's  side,  the  thoughts 
of  his  past  life  forced  themselves  upon  him,  and  he 
shuddered  to  think  that,  at  the  age  of  twenty-five, 
he  had  only  to  look  back  upon  scenes  of  misery  and 
crime,  which  cast  a  cloud  of  gloom  and  horror  over 
the  rest  of  his  days.  What  a  terrible  future  to  come 
after  so  hideous  a  past ! 

He  had  another  source  of  anxiety,  and  frequently 
rang  the  bell  to  inquire  for  Jean. 

"  Send  him  to  me  as  soon  as  he  comes,"  was  his 
order. 

At  last  Jean  made  his  appearance,  and  his  master 
led  him  into  a  deeply-recessed  window. 

"  Well  ?  "  asked  he. 

"  All  is  settled,  my  lord ;  be  easy." 

"And  Caroline?" 

"  Has  left.  I  gave  her  twenty  thousand  francs,  and 
saw  her  into  the  train  myself.  She  is  going  to  the 
States,  where  she  hopes  to  find  a  cousin  who  will 
marry  her;  at  least,  that  is  her  intention." 


THE    HEIR    OF    CHAMPDOCE  203 

Norbert  heaved  a  deep  sigh  of  reHef,  for  the 
thought  of  Caroline  Schimmel  had  laid  like  a  heavy 
burden  upon  his  heart. 

"  And  how  about  the  other  matter  ?  "  asked  he. 

The  old  man  shook  his  head. 

"  What  has  been  done  ?  " 

"  I  have  got  hold  of  a  young  fellow  who  believes 
that  I  wish  to  send  him  to  Egypt,  to  purchase  cot- 
ton. He  will  start  to-morrow,  and  will  post  the  two 
letters  written  by  the  Marquis  de  Croisenois,  one  at 
Marseilles,  and  the  other  at  Cairo." 

"  Do  you  not  think  that  these  letters  will  insure 
my  perfect  security  ?  " 

"  I  see  that  any  indiscretion  on  our  agent's  part, 
or  a  mere  act  of  carelessness,  may  ruin  us." 

"  And  yet  it  must  be  done." 

After  consulting  together,  the  doctors  had  given 
some  slight  hope,  but  the  position  of  the  patient  was 
still  very  precarious.  It  was  suggested  that  her  in- 
tellect might  be  permanently  affected ;  and  during  all 
these  long  and  anxious  hours  Norbert  did  not  even 
dare  to  close  his  eyes,  and  it  was  with  feelings  of 
secret  terror  that  he  permitted  the  maids  to  perform 
their  duties  around  their  invalid  mistress. 

Upon  the  fourth  day  the  fever  took  a  favorable 
turn,  and  Marie  slept,  giving  Norbert  time  to  review 
his  position. 

How  was  it  that  Madame  de  Mussidan,  who  was  a 
daily  visitor,  had  not  appeared  at  the  house  since  that 
eventful  night?  He  was  so  much  surprised  at  this 
that  he  ventured  to  dispatch  a-  short  note,  acquainting 
her  of  the  sudden  illness  of  his  wife. 

In  an  hour  he  received  a  reply,  merely  containing 
these  words: — 


204         THE    CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

"  Can  you  account  for  M.  de  Mussidan's  sudden  de- 
termination to  spend  the  winter  in  Italy?  We  leave 
this  evening.    Farewell. — D." 

And  so  she,  too,  had  abandoned  him,  taking  with  her 
all  the  hopes  he  had  in  the  world.  Still,  however,  his 
infatuation  held  its  sway  over  him,  and  he  forced 
himself  to  believe  that  she  felt  this  separation  as  keenly 
as  he  did. 

Some  five  days  afterwards,  when  the  Duchess  de 
Champdoce  had  been  pronounced  out  of  immediate 
danger,  one  of  the  doctors  took  him  mysteriously 
aside.  He  said  that  he  wanted  to  inform  the  Duke 
of  a  startling,  but  he  hoped  a  welcome  piece  of  intelli- 
gence— that  the  Duchess  de  Champdoce  was  in  the 
way  to  present  the  Duke  with  an  heir  to  his  title  and 
estates. 

It  was  the  knowledge  of  this  that  had  decided  her 
not  to  leave  her  husband's  roof,  and  had  steeled  her 
heart  against  George's  entreaties.  She  had  hesitated, 
and  had  almost  yielded  to  the  feelings  of  her  heart, 
when  this  thought  troubled  her. 

Unfortunately  for  herself,  she  had  not  disclosed  her 
condition  to  her  husband,  and,  at  the  news,  all  Nor- 
bert's  former  suspicions  revived,  and  his  wrath  rose 
once  more  to  an  extraordinary  height.  His  lips  grew 
pale,  and  his  eyes  blazed  with  fury. 

"  Thank  you,  doctor !  "  exclaimed  he.  "  Of  course, 
the  news  is  very  welcome.  Good-by.  I  must  go  to 
the  Duchess  at  once." 

Instead  of  going  to  his  wife,  Norbert  went  and 
locked  himself  up  in  his  own  private  apartment.  He 
had  need  to  be  alone,  in  order  to  look  this  fresh  com- 
plication more  fully  in  the  face,  and  the  more  he  re- 
flected, the  more  convinced  was  he  that  he  had  been 


THE   HEIR   OF   CHAMPDOCE  205 

the  dupe  of  a  guilty  woman.  He  had  begun  by  doubt- 
ing, and  he  ended  by  being  convinced  that  the  child 
was  not  his.  Was  he  to  accept  this  degraded  posi- 
tion, and  rear  up  as  his  own  the  child  of  George  de 
Croisenois?  The  child  would  grow  up  under  his  own 
roof-tree,  bear  his  name,  and  finally  inherit  his  title 
and  gigantic  fortune.  "  Never,"  muttered  he.  "  No, 
never;  for  sooner  than  that,  I  will  crush  the  life  out 
of  it  with  my  own  hands  !  " 

The  more  he  thought  how  he  should  have  to  de- 
ceive the  world  by  feigning  love  and  lavishing  caresses 
upon  this  interloping  child,  the  more  he  felt  that  it 
would  be  impossible  to  perform  his  task.  He  had, 
however,  much  to  do  at  present.  The  sudden  and 
mysterious  disappearance  of  George  de  Croisenois  had 
created  much  stir  and  excitement  in  Paris,  and  the 
letter  which  had  been  posted  by  the  agent  dispatched 
by  Jean,  instead  of  explaining  matters,  had  only  deep- 
ened the  mystery  and  caused  fresh  grounds  of  sur- 
prise to  arise  in  the  minds  of  the  friends  of  the  Mar- 
quis and  the  police  authorities.  But  the  disappearance 
of  the  Marquis  was  only  a  nine  days'  wonder  after 
all.  Some  other  strange  event  excited  the  attention 
of  the  fickle  public,  and  George  de  Croisenois'  name 
was  no  longer  in  every  one's  mouth. 

Norbert  breathed  freely  once  more,  for  he  felt  his 
secret  was  safe. 

Diana  de  Mussidan  had  now  been  absent  for  three 
months  and  had  not  vouchsafed  him  a  single  line.  A 
river  of  blood  flowed  between  him  and  his  wife. 
Among  all  his  acquaintances  he  had  not  one  friend 
on  whom  he  could  rely,  and  his  reckless  life  of  de- 
bauchery and  dissipation  began  to  weary  him.  His 
thoughts  were  always  fixed  upon  this  coming  child. 


2o6         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

How  could  he  ever  bear  to  bring  it  up  as  if  it  were  his 
own?  He  had  thought  over  many  plans,  but  always 
trusted  to  the  first  one  he  had  conceived.  This  was 
to  procure  an  infant,  it  mattered  not  where  or  by 
what  means,  and  substitute  it  for  the  new-born  child 
of  his  wife.  As  time  rolled  on,  he  became  more  im- 
bued with  this  idea,  and  at  length  he  summoned  Jean 
to  him,  that  faithful  old  man,  who  served  his  master 
so  truly  out  of  affection  to  the  house  of  Champdoce. 

For  the  first  time  Jean  raised  an  objection  to  his 
master's  proposal,  declaring  that  such  an  act  would 
bring  shame  and  misery  upon  all  concerned  in  it; 
but  when  he  found  that  Norbert  was  determined,  ind 
that,  if  he  refused,  his  master  would  employ  some  less 
scrupulous  agent,  he,  with  tears  in  his  eyes  and  a 
tremor  in  his  voice,  promised  obedience. 

About  a  month  later,  Jean  came  to  his  master  and 
suggested  that  it  would  be  best  the  accouchement  of 
the  Duchess  should  take  place  at  a  chateau  belonging 
to  the  Champdoce  family  near  Montroire,  and  that 
this  once  done,  he,  Jean,  would  arrange  everything. 
The  removal  was  effected  almost  at  once,  and  the  Duch- 
ess, who  was  a  mere  shadow  of  her  former  self,  made 
no  opposition.  She  and  Norbert  lived  together  as 
perfect  strangers.  Sometimes  a  week  would  elapse 
without  their  meeting;  and  if  they  had  occasion  to 
communicate,  it  was  done  by  letter. 

The  estate  to  which  Norbert  had  conducted  the 
Duchess  was  admirably  adapted  for  his  purpose.  The 
unhappy  woman  was  entirely  alone  in  the  world,  and 
had  no  one  to  whom  she  could  apply  for  protection  or 
advice.  Her  father,  the  Count  de  Puymandour,  had 
died  suddenly  a  month  before,  owing  to  chagrin 
caused  by  his  defeat  when  a  candidate  for  a  seat  in 


MASCARIN    SPEAKS  207 

the  Chamber.  The  brief  note  from  the  despairing 
mother,  in  which  followed  the  words,  "  Have  mercy ! 
Give  me  back  my  child ! "  hardly  describes  the  terri- 
ble events  that  occurred  in  the  lonely  Chateau  to  which 
Norbert  had  conducted  his  innocent  victim. 

The  child  of  the  Duchess  de  Champdoce  had  been 
placed  by  Jean  in  the  Foundling  Hospital  at  Ven- 
dome,  while  the  infant  that  was  baptized  with  the 
grandiloquent  names  of  Anne  Rene,  Gontran  de  Due- 
pair,  Marquis  de  Champdoce,  was  the  bastard  child  of 
a  girl  living  near  Montroire,  who  was  known  in  the 
neighborhood  as  "  The  Witch." 


CHAPTER    XIX. 


MASCARIN     SPEAKS. 


This  was  the  conclusion  of  the  manuscript  handed 
by  Mascarin  to  Paul  Violaine,  and  the  young  man  laid 
down  the  roll  of  paper  with  the  remark,  "  And  that 
is  all." 

He  had  consumed  six  hours  in  reading  this  sad  ac- 
count of  the  follies  and  crimes  of  the  owners  of  illus- 
trious names. 

Mascarin  had  listened  with  the  complacency  of  an 
author  who  hears  his  own  work  read  aloud  to  him, 
but  all  the  while  he  was  keenly  watching  him  beneath 
his  spectacles  and  the  faces  of  his  companions.  The 
effect  that  was  produced  was  immense,  and  exactly 
what  he  had  anticipated.  Paul,  Hortebise,  and  Cate- 
nae gazed  upon  each  other  with  faces  in  which  aston- 
ishment at  the  strange  recital,  and  then  at  the  power 


2o8         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

•of  the  man  who  had  collected  these  facts  together, 
were  mingled,  and  Catenae  was  the  first  who  spoke. 
The  sound  of  his  own  voice  seemed  gradually  to  dis- 
pel the  vague  sense  of  apprehension  that  hung  about 
the  office. 

"  Aha ! "  cried  he,  "  I  always  said  that  our  old 
friend  Mascarin  would  make  his  mark  in  literature. 
As  soon  as  his  pen  touches  the  paper  the  business 
man  vanishes ;  we  have  no  longer  a  collection  of  dry 
facts  and  proofs,  but  the  stirring  pages  of  a  sensational 
novel." 

"  Do  you  really  consider  that  as  a  mere  romance  ?  " 
asked  Hortebise. 

"  It  reads  like  one  certainly ;  you  must  allow  that." 

"  Catenae,"  remarked  Mascarin  in  his  bitterly  sar- 
castic tone,  "  is  best  able  to  pronounce  upon  the  truth 
or  falsehood  of  this  narrative,  as  he  is  the  professional 
adviser  of  this  same  Duke  de  Champdoce,  the  very 
Norbert  whose  life  has  just  been  read  to  you." 

"  I  do  not  deny  that  there  is  some  slight  foundation 
to  it,"  returned  the  lawyer. 

"Then  what  is  it  that  you  do  deny?" 

"  Nothing,  nothing;  I  merely  objected,  more  in  jest 
than  otherwise,  to  the  sentimental  manner  in  which 
you  have  set  forward  your  case." 

"  Catenae,"  remarked  Mascarin,  addressing  the 
others,  "  has  received  many  confidential  communica- 
tions from  his  noble  client,  which  he  has  not  thought 
fit  to  communicate  to  us ;  and  though  he  fancied  that 
we  were  drifting  into  quicksands  and  among  break- 
ers, he  displayed  no  signal  of  warning  to  save  us  from 
our  danger,  hoping,  like  a  true  friend,  that,  by  this 
means,  he  might  get  rid  of  us." 


MASCARIN    SPEAKS  209 

Catenae  began  to  utter  protestations  and  denials, 
but  Mascarin  cut  him  short  with  an  imperative  ges- 
ture, and,  after  a  long  pause,  he  again  commenced, — 

"  You  must  understand  that  my  inquisitors  have  had 
but  little  to  do  in  this  affair,  for  my  work  has  chiefly 
consisted  in  putting  fragments  together.  It  is  not  to 
me  that  you  are  indebted  for  the  sensational  (I  think 
that  that  was  the  term  used)  part  of  my  story,  but 
rather  to  Madame  de  Mussidan  and  Norbert  de 
Champdoce.  I  am  sure  that  some  of  the  phrases  must 
have  struck  you  considerably." 

"  It  seems  to  me,"  objected  Catenae 

"  Perhaps,"  broke  in  Mascarin,  "  you  have  for- 
gotten the  correspondence  which  the  Countess  de  Mus- 
sidan preserved  so  carefully — both  his  letters  and  her 
own,  which  Norbert  returned  to  her." 

"  And  have  we  those  ?  " 

"  Of  course  we  have,  only  there  is  a  perfect  romance 
contained  in  these  letters.  What  I  have  read  is  a  mere 
bald  extract  from  them ;  and  this  is  not  all.  The  man 
who  assisted  me  in  the  unravelling  of  this  dark  in- 
trigue was  the  original  promoter — Daumon." 

"  What,  is  the  Counsellor  still  alive  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  and  you  know  him.  He  is  not  quite  in 
his  first  youth,  and  has  aged  somewhat,  but  his  intel- 
lect is  as  brilliant  as  ever." 

Catenae  grew  serious.  "  You  tell  me  a  great  deal," 
said  he. 

"  I  can  tell  you  even  more.  I  can  tell  you  that  the 
account  of  the  deed  was  written  under  the  dictation 
of  Caroline  Schimmel,"  broke  in  Mascarin.  "  This 
unlucky  woman  started  for  Havre,  intending  to  sail 
for  the  United  States,  but  she  got  no  further  than  that 


2IO         THE    CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

seaport  town,  for  the  good  looks  and  the  persuasive 
tongue  of  a  sailor  induced  her  to  alter  her  plans.  As 
long  as  her  money  lasted  he  remained  an  ardent  lover, 
but  vanished  with  the  disappearance  of  her  last  thou- 
sand-franc note.  Starving  and  poverty-stricken,  Caro- 
line returned  to  Paris  and  to  the  Duke  de  Champdoce, 
who  accepted  her  constant  demands  for  money  as  a 
penitent  expiation  of  his  crime.  But  she  remained 
faithful  to  her  oath;  and  had  it  not  been  for  her  ter- 
rible propensity  for  drink,  Tantaine  would  never  have 
succeeded  in  extracting  her  secret  from  her.  If,  on 
her  recovery  from  her  fit  of  drink  coma,  she  recollects 
what  has  taken  place,  she  will,  if  I  read  her  character 
right,  go  straight  to  the  Duke  de  Champdoce  and  tell 
him  that  his  secret  has  passed  into  better  hands." 

At  this  idea  being  promulgated,  Catenae  started 
from  his  chair  with  a  loud  oath. 

"  Did  you  think,"  asked  Mascarin,  "  that  I  should 
feel  so  much  at  my  ease  if  I  found  that  there  was  the 
slightest  risk?  Let  us  consider  what  it  is  that  Caro- 
line can  say.  Who  is  it  that  she  can  accuse  of  having 
stolen  her  secret  from  her?  Why,  only  a  poor  old 
wretch  named  Tantaine.  How  can  the  Duke  possibly 
trace  any  connection  between  this  miserable  writer  and 
Catenae  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  think  that  it  would  be  a  difficult  task." 

"  Besides,"  pursued  Mascarin,  "  what  have  we  to 
fear  from  the  Duke  de  Champdoce?  Nothing,  as  far 
as  I  can  see.  Is  he  not  as  much  in  our  power  as  the 
woman  he  formerly  loved — Diana  de  Mussidan?  Do 
we  not  hold  the  letters  of  both  of  them,  and  do  we 
not  know  in  what  corner  of  his  garden  to  dig  to  dis- 
cover a  damning  piece  of  evidence?  Remember  that 
there  will  be  no  difficulty  in  identifying  the  skeleton, 


MASCARIN    SPEAKS  211 

for  at  the  time  of  his  disappearance,  Croisenois  had 
about  him  several  Spanish  doubloons,  a  fact  which 
was  given  to  the  police." 

"  Well,"  said  Catenae,  "  I  will  act  faithfully.  Tell 
me  your  plans,  and  I  will  let  you  know  all  that  I 
hear  from  the  Duke." 

For  a  moment  a  smile  hovered  upon  Mascarin's  lips, 
for  this  time  he  placed  firm  reliance  upon  the  good 
faith  of  the  lawyer. 

"  Before  we  go  further,"  said  he,  "  let  me  conclude 
this  narrative  which  Paul  has  just  read.  It  is  sad  and 
simple.  The  united  ages  of  the  Duke  and  Duchess 
did  not  exceed  fifty  years ;  they  had  unlimited  wealth, 
and  bore  one  of  the  grandest  historic  names  of  France ; 
they  were  surrounded  with  every  appliance  of  luxury, 
and  yet  their  lives  were  a  perfect  wreck.  They  simply 
dragged  on  an  existence  and  had  lost  all  hopes  of 
happiness,  but  they  made  up  their  minds  to  conceal  the 
skeleton  of  their  house  in  the  darkest  cupboard,  and 
the  world  knew  nothing  of  their  inner  life.  The 
Duchess  suffered  much  in  health,  and  merely  went  out 
to  visit  the  sick  and  poor.  The  Duke  worked  hard  to 
make  up  for  the  deficiencies  of  his  early  education,  and 
made  a  name  and  reputation  throughout  Europe." 

"  And  how  about  Madame  de  Mussidan  ?  "  asked 
Catenae. 

"  I  am  coming  to  that,"  returned  Mascarin.  "  With 
that  strange  determination  that  fills  the  hearts  of  our 
women,  she  did  not  consider  her  revenge  complete 
until  Norbert  learned  that  she  was  the  sole  instrument 
in  heaping  the  crowning  sorrow  of  his  life  on  his  head ; 
and  on  her  return  from  Italy,  she  sent  for  him  and 
told  him  everything.  Yes,  she  absolutely  had  the  au- 
dacity to  tell  him  that  it  was  she  who  had  done  her 


212         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

best  to  throw  his  wife  into  De  Croisenois'  arms.  She 
told  him  that  it  was  she  who  had  worked  the  arrange- 
ments for  the  meeting,  and  had  written  the  anonymous 
letter." 

"  Why  did  he  not  kill  her  ?  "  cried  Hortebise.  "  Had 
she  not  all  his  letters,  and  taunted  him  with  the  pro- 
duction of  them  ?  Ah,  my  dear  friends,  do  not  let  us 
flatter  ourselves  that  we  have  the  sole  monopoly  of 
blackmailing.  This  high-born  Countess  plunged  her 
hand  into  the  Duke's  coffers  just  as  if  she  had  been 
a  mere  adventuress.  It  is  only  ten  days  ago  that  she 
borrowed — you  will  observe  the  entry  of  it  as  a  loan — 
a  large  sum  to  settle  an  account  of  Van  Klopen's. 
But  let  us  now  speak  of  the  child  who  took  the  place 
of  the  boy  whom  the  Duchess  brought  into  the  world. 
You  know  him,  doctor?" 

"  Yes,  I  have  often  seen  him.  He  was  a  good-look- 
ing young  fellow." 

"  He  was,  but  he  was  a  degraded  scoundrel,  after 
all.  He  was  educated  and  brought  up  without  regard 
to  expense,  but  he  always  displayed  low  tastes,  and, 
had  he  lived,  would  have  brought  discredit  on  the 
name  he  bore.  He  was  a  thorn  in  the  side  of  the  Duke 
and  Duchess,  and  I  believe  that  they  felt  great  relief 
when  he  died  of  brain  fever,  brought  on  by  a  drunken 
debauch.  His  parents,  or  those  whom  he  supposed  to 
be  such,  were  present  at  his  death-bed,  for  they  had 
learned  to  consider  their  sorrows  as  the  just  chastise- 
ment of  heaven.  The  boy  having  died,  the  family  of 
Champdoce  seemed  likely  to  become  extinct,  and  then 
it  was  that  Norbert  decided  to  do  what  his  wife  had 
long  urged  upon  him,  to  seek  for  and  reclaim  the  child 
which  he  had  caused  to  be  placed  in  the  Foundling 
Hospital  at  Vendome.     It  went  against  his  pride  to 


MASCARIN    SPEAKS  213 

diverge  from  the  course  he  had  determined  on  as  best, 
but  doubts  had  arisen  in  his  mind  as  to  his  wife's 
guilt,  and  Diana's  confessions  had  reassured  him  as 
to  the  paternity  of  the  missing  boy.  It  was  thus  with 
hope  in  his  heart,  and  furnished  with  every  necessary 
document,  that  he  started  for  Vendome ;  but  there  a 
terrible  disappointment  awaited  him.  The  authorities 
of  the  hospital,  on  consulting  the  register,  found 
that  a  child  had  been  admitted  on  the  day  and  hour 
mentioned  by  Norbert,  and  that  his  description  of  the 
infant's  clothing  tallied  exactly  with  the  entries.  But 
the  child  was  no  longer  in  the  hospital,  and  there  was 
no  clue  to  his  whereabouts.  He  had,  at  the  age  of 
twelve,  been  apprenticed  to  a  tanner,  but  he  had  run 
away  from  his  master,  and  the  most  active  and  ener- 
getic search  had  failed  to  arrest  the  fugitive." 

Catenae  listened  to  all  these  exact .  details  with  an 
unpleasant  feeling  gnawing  at  his  heart,  for  he  saw 
that  his  associates  knew  everything,  and  he  had  relied 
upon  again  securing  their  confidence  by  furnishing 
them  with  those  details  which  were  evidently  already 
known  to  them.  Mascarin,  however,  affected  not  to 
notice  his  surprise,  and  went  on  with  his  narrative. 

"  This  terrible  disappointment  will  certainly  kill  the 
Duke  de  Champdoce.  It  seemed  to  him  that  after 
having-  so  bitterly  expiated  the  crimes  and  follies  of 
his  youth,  he  might  hope  to  have  his  old  age  in  peace 
and  quiet,  with  a  son  who  might  cheer  the  loneliness 
of  his  desolate  fireside.  His  countenance,  as  soon  as 
he  appeared  before  the  Duchess,  who  had  been  ex- 
pecting his  return  in  an  agony  of  anguish  and  sus- 
pense, told  her  at  once  that  all  hope  had  fled.  In  a 
few  days,  however,  the  Duke  had  perfectly  recovered 
from  the  shock,  and  had  decided  that  to  give  up  the 


214         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

search  would  be  an  act  of  madness.  The  world  is 
wide,  and  a  friendless  boy,  without  a  name,  difficult 
to  trace;  but,  with  ample  funds,  almost  anything  can 
be  done,  and  he  was  willing  to  sacrifice  both  life  and 
fortune  to  attain  his  object.  So  immense  were  his  re- 
sources, that  it  was  easy  for  him  to  employ  the  most 
skilful  detectives;  and  whatever  the  result  might  be, 
he  had  come  to  look  upon  this  task  as  a  sacred  duty 
to  which  he  ought  to  devote  all  the  remaining  years 
of  his  life.  He  swore  that  he  would  never  rest  or 
cease  from  his  search  until  he  had  been  furnished  with 
the  indisputable  proofs  of  the  existence  or  the  death 
of  his  son.  He  did  not  confide  all  this  project  to  the 
Duchess;  for  he  feared — and  he  had  by  this  time 
learned  to  have  some  consideration  for  her  enfeebled 
frame — her  health  had  given  way  so  completely  that 
any  extra  degree  of  excitement  might  prove  fatal  to 
her.  He,  therefore,  as  a  preliminary,  applied  to  that 
element  which  in  the  Rue  de  Jerusalem  acts  as  the 
terrestrial  guardians  of  society.  But  the  police  could 
do  nothing  for  the  Duke.  They  heard  what  he  had 
to  say  gravely,  took  notes,  told  him  to  call  again  later 
on,  and  there  was  an  end  to  their  proceedings.  It 
can  easily  be  understood  that  the  rank  and  position  of 
the  Duke  prevented  him  from  making  his  name  known 
in  his  inquiries ;  and  as  he  dared  not  divulge  the  whole 
truth,  he  gave  such  a  bald  version  of  the  case,  that 
it  excited  no  deep  feelings  of  interest.  At  last  he  was 
sent  to  a  certain  M.  Lecoq." 

To  Paul's  utter  astonishment,  the  name  produced  a 
sudden  and  terrible  eflFect  upon  Doctor  Hortebise,  who 
started  to  his  feet  as  if  propelled  from  his  chair  by 
the  unexpected  application  of  some  hidden  motive 
power,  and,  fingering  the  locket  that  hung  from  his 


MASCARIN   SPEAKS  215 

chain,  gazed  round  upon  his  associates  with  wild  and 
excited  eyes. 

"  Stop !  "  cried  he.  "  If  that  fellow  Lecoq  is  to  put 
his  nose  into  your  case,  I  withdraw ;  I  will  have  noth- 
ing to  do  with  it,  for  it  is  certain  to  be  a  failure." 

He  appeared  to  be  so  thoroughly  frightened,  that 
Catenae  condescended  to  smile. 

"  Yes,  yes,"  said  he,  "  I  can  understand  your  alarm ; 
but  be  at  ease ;  Lecoq  has  nothing  to  do  with  us." 

But  Hortebise  was  not  satisfied  with  Catenae's  as- 
surance, and  looked  for  confirmation  from  Mascarin. 

"  Lecoq  has  nothing  to  do  with  us,"  repeated  his 
friend.  "  The  fool  said  that  his  position  prevented 
him  from  giving  his  time  to  any  investigation  of  a 
private  nature,  which,  by  the  way,  is  quite  true.  The 
Duke  offered  him  a  heavy  sum  to  throw  up  his  ap- 
pointment, but  he  refused,  saying  he  did  not  work  for 
money,  but  from  love  for  his  profession." 

"  Which  is  quite  true,"  interrupted  Catenae. 

"  However,"  continued  Mascarin,  "  to  cut  short  my 
narrative,  the  Duke,  on  the  refusal  of  Lecoq  to  act, 
applied  to  Catenae." 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  lawyer,  "  and  the  Duke  has 
placed  the  conduct  of  the  search  in  my  hands." 

"  Have  you  formed  any  plan  of  action  ?  " 

"  Not  at  present.  The  Duke  said,  '  Ask  every  living 
soul  in  the  world,  if  you  can  succeed  in  no  other  way  ' ; 
this  is  all  the  instruction  he  has  given  me ;  and,"  added 
he,  with  a  slight  shrug  of  his  shoulders,  "  I  am  almost 
of  Perpignan's  opinion,  that  the  search  will  be  a  fruit- 
less one." 

"  Lecoq  did  not  think  so." 

"  He  only  said  that  he  believed  he  should  succeed 
if  he  were  to  take  it  in  hand." 


2i6         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

"  Well,"  answered  Mascarin  coldly,  "  I  have  been 
certain  of  success  from  the  very  commencement." 

"  Have  you  been  to  Vendome  ?  "  asked  Catenae, 

"  Never  mind,  I  have  been  somewhere,  and  at  this 
very  moment  could  place  my  hand  upon  the  shoulder 
of  the  heir  to  the  dukedom  of  Champdoce." 

"  Are  you  in  earnest  ?  " 

"  I  was  never  more  in  earnest  in  my  life.  I  have 
found  him;  only  as  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  appear 
in  the  matter,  I  shall  delegate  to  you  and  Perpignan 
the  happiness  of  restoring  the  lost  son  to  his  father's 
arms." 

Catenae  glanced  from  Mascarin  to  Hortebise,  and 
from  them  to  Paul,  and  seemed  to  wish  to  be  certain 
that  he  was  not  being  made  an  object  of  ridicule. 

"  And  why  do  you  not  wish  to  appear  in  the  mat- 
ter ?  "  asked  he  at  last,  in  a  suspicious  tone  of  voice. 
"  Do  you  foresee  some  risk,  and  want  me  to  bear  the 
brunt  ? " 

Mascarin  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  First,"  said  he,  "  I  am  not  a  traitor,  as  you  know 
well  enough;  and  then  the  interests  of  all  of  us  de- 
pend on  your  safety.  Can  one  of  us  be  compromised 
without  endangering  his  associates?  You  know  that 
this  is  impossible.  All  you  have  to  do  is  to  point  out 
where  the  traces  commence;  others  will  follow  them 
at  their  own  risk,  and  all  you  will  have  to  do  will  be 
to  look  calmly  on." 

"  But " 

Mascarin  lost  his  patience,  and  with  a  deep  frown, 
replied, — 

"  That  is  enough.  We  require  no  more  argument. 
I  am  the  master,  and  it  is  for  you  to  obey." 

When  Mascarin  adopted  this  tone,  resistance  was 


A   SUDDEN    CHECK  217 

out  of  the  question;  and  as  he  invariably  made  all 
yield  to  him,  it  was  best  to  obey  with  a  good  grace, 
and  Catenae  relapsed  into  silence,  completely  subju- 
gated and  very  much  puzzled. 

"  Sit  down  at  my  desk,"  continued  Mascarin,  "  and 
take  careful  notes  of  what  I  now  say.  Success  is, 
as  I  have  told  you,  inevitable,  but  I  must  be  ably 
backed.  All  now  depends  upon  your  exactitude  in 
obeying  my  orders ;  one  false  step  may  ruin  us  all. 
You  have  heard  this,  and  cannot  say  that  you  are  not 
fully  warned." 


CHAPTER  XX. 


A    SUDDEN     CHECK. 


Catenac  seated  himself  at  the  writing-table  without 
a  word,  concealing  his  anger  and  jealousy  beneath  a 
careless  smile.  Mascarin  was  no  longer  the  plotter 
consulting  with  his  confederates;  he  was  the  master 
issuing  his  orders  to  his  subordinates.  He  had  now 
taken  from  a  box  some  of  those  square  pieces  of 
pasteboard,  which  he  spent  his  time  in  reading  over. 

"  Try  and  not  miss  one  word  of  what  I  am  saying," 
remarked  he,  bending  his  keen  glance  upon  Paul ;  then, 
turning  to  Catenac,  he  continued,  "  Can  you  persiiade 
the  Duke  de  Champdoce  and  Perpignan  to  start  for 
Vendome  on  Saturday  ?  " 

"  Perhaps  I  may  be  able  to  do  so." 

"  I  want  a  Yes  or  No.  Can  you  or  can  you  not 
make  these  people  go  there  ?  " 

"  Well,  yes,  then." 


2i8         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

"  Very  well.    Then,  on  going  to  Vendome,  you  will 
stop  at  the  Hotel  de  Porte." 

"  Hotel  de  Porte,"  repeated  Catenae,  as  he  made  a 
note  of  the  name. 

"  Upon  the  day  of  your  arrival  at  Vendome,"  con- 
tinued Mascarin,  "  you  could  do  very  little.  Your  time 
would  be  taken  up  in  resting  after  your  journey,  and 
perhaps  you  may  make  a  few  preliminary  inquiries. 
It  will  be  on  Sunday  that  you  will  go  to  the  hospital 
together,  and  make  the  same  inquiries  which  the  Duke 
formerly  made  by  himself.  The  lady  superior  is  a 
woman  of  excellent  taste  and  education,  and  she  will 
do  all  that  she  can  to  be  useful  to  you.  Through  her 
you  will  be  able  to  obtain  the  boy's  description,  and 
the  date  on  which  he  left  the  hospital  to  be  appren- 
ticed to  a  tanner.  She  will  tell  you  that,  disliking 
the  employment,  he  ran  away  from  them  at  the  age 
of  twelve  and  a  half  years,  &nd  that  since  then  no 
trace  of  him  has  been  found.  You  will  hear  from 
her  that  he  was  a  tall,  well-built  lad,  looking  two 
years  older  than  he  really  was,  with  an  intelligent  cast 
of  features,  and  keen,  bright  eyes,  full  of  health  and 
good  looks.  He  had  on,  on  the  day  of  his  disappear- 
ance, blue  and  white  striped  trousers,  a  gray  blouse, 
a  cap  with  no  peak,  and  a  spotted  silk  cravat.  Then, 
to  assist  you  still  further  in  your  researches  she  will 
add  that  he  carried  in  a  bundle,  enveloped  in  a  red 
plaid  cotton  handkerchief,  a  white  blouse,  a  pair  of 
gray  cloth  trousers,  and  a  pair  of  new  shoes." 

Catenae  watched  Mascarin  as  he  was  speaking  with 
an  expression  of  ill-concealed  enmity. 

"  You  are  well  informed,  on  my  word,"  muttered  he. 

"  I  think  I  am,"  returned  Mascarin.     "  After  this 
you  will  go  back  to  the  hotel,  and  not  until  then — do 


A   SUDDEN    CHECK  219 

you  understand? — and  you  will  consult  as  to  the  first 
steps  to  be  taken.  The  plan  proposed  by  Perpignan 
is  an  excellent  one." 

"  What !  you  know  it  then  ?  " 

"  Of  course  I  do.  He  proposed  to  divide  Vendome 
and  its  suburbs  into  a  certain  number  of  circles,  and 
to  make  a  house-to-house  visitation  in  each  of  them. 
Let  him  go  to  work  in  this  manner.  Of  course,  to 
do  so,  you  will  require  a  guide." 

"  Of  course  we  should  require  such  a  person." 

"  Here,  Catenae,  I  must  leave  a  little  to  chance,  for 
I  am  not  quite  omnipotent.  But  there  are  nine  chances 
out  of  ten  that  your  host  will  advise  you  to  avail 
yourself  of  the  services  of  a  man  called  Frejot,  who 
acts  as  commissioner  to  the  hotel.  It  may  be,  how- 
ever, that  he  may  designate  some  one  else;  but  in 
that  case  you  must,  by  some  means  or  other,  manage 
to  employ  the  services  of  one  other  man." 

"  What  am  I  to  say  to  him  ?  " 

"  He  understands  what  he  is  to  do  completely.  Well, 
these  preliminaries  being  settled,  you  will  commence 
on  Monday  morning  to  search  the  suburb  called 
Areines,  under  the  guidance  of  Frejot.  Leave  all 
responsibility  to  Perpignan,  but  make  sure  that  the 
Duke  comes  with  you.  Ask  the  denizens  a  series  of 
questions  which  you  have  prepared  beforehand,  such 
as  '  My  friends,  we  are  in  search  of  a  boy.  A  reward 
of  ten  thousand  francs  is  offered  to  any  one  who  will 
put  us  on  his  track.  He  must  have  left  these  parts 
in  August,  1856,  and  some  of  you  may  have  seen 
him.'  " 

Here  Catenae  stopped  Mascarin, 

"  Wait  a  moment.  Your  own  words  are  excellent ; 
I  will  write  them  down." 


220         THE    CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

"  All  Monday,"  continued  Mascarin,  "  you  will  not 
make  much  progress,  and  for  the  next  few  days  it 
will  be  the  same,  but  on  Saturday  prepare  yourself 
for  a  great  surprise;  for  on  that  day  Frejot  will  take 
you  to  a  large,  lonely  farmhouse,  on  the  shores  of  a 
lake.  This  farm  is  held  by  a  man  named  Lorgelin, 
who  cultivates  it  with  the  assistance  of  his  wife  and 
his  two  sons.  You  will  find  these  worthy  people  at 
dinner.  They  will  offer  you  some  refreshment,  and 
you  will  accept.  At  the  next  word  you  utter  you  will 
find  that  they  will  glance  at  each  other  in  a  meaning 
manner,  and  the  wife  will  exclaim,  '  Blessed  Virgin ! 
surely  the  gentleman  is  speaking  of  the  poor  lad  we 
have  so  often  talked  about.' " 

As  Mascarin  went  on  describing  his  arrangements, 
his  whole  form  seemed  to  dilate,  and  his  face  shone 
with  the  knowledge  of  mastery  and  power.  His  voice 
was  so  clear  and  his  manner  so  full  of  authority  and 
command,  that  it  carried  conviction  to  the  minds  of 
all  those  who  were  seated  listening  to  him.  He  spoke 
of  what  would  happen  as  if  he  was  dealing  with  an 
absolute  certainty,  and  went  on  with  such  wonderful 
lucidity  and  force  of  reasoning  that  they  seemed  to 
be  absolutely  real. 

"  Oh !  the  farmer's  wife  will  say  this,  will  she  ?  "  de- 
manded Catenae,  in  a  tone  of  the  utmost  surprise. 

"  Yes,  this,  and  nothing  more.  Then  the  husband 
will  explain  that  they  found  the  poor  lad  half  dead 
in  a  ditch  by  the  side  of  the  road,  and  that  they  took 
him  home,  and  did  what  they  could  for  him ;  and  will 
add,  this  was  in  the  beginning  of  September,  1856. 
You  will  offer  to  read  him  your  description  of  the  lad, 
but  he  will  volunteer  his  own,  which  you  will  find  ex- 
actly to  tally  with  the  one  you  have.     Then  Lorgelin 


A   SUDDEN    CHECK  221 

will  tell  you  what  an  excellent  lad  he  was,  and  how 
the  farm  seemed  quite  another  place  as  long  as  he  re- 
mained there.  All  the  family  will  join  in  singing  his 
praises — he  was  so  good-tempered,  so  obliging,  and  at 
thirteen  he  could  write  like  a  lawyer's  clerk.  And 
then  they  will  produce  some  of  his  writing  in  an  old 
copy  book.  But  after  all  the  old  woman,  with  a  tear 
in  her  eye,  will  say  that  she  found  the  lad  had  not 
much  gratitude  in  his  composition,  for  at  the  end  of 
the  following  September  he  left  the  farm  where  he  had 
received  so  much  kindness.  Yes,  he  left  them  to  go 
away  with  some  strolling  performers.  You  will  be 
absolutely  affected  by  the  words  of  these  worthy  peo- 
ple, and  before  you  leave  they  will  show  you  the 
clothes  the  lad  left  behind  him." 

Catenae  was  waiting  for  the  conclusion,  and  then 
exclaimed,  in  rather  a  disappointed  tone, — 

"  But  I  do  not  see  what  we  have  gained  when 
Lorgelin's  story  has  been  repeated  to  us." 

Mascarin  raised  his  hand,  as  though  to  deprecate  im- 
mediate criticism,  and  to  ask  for  further  patience  on 
the  part  of  his  audience. 

"  Permit  me  to  go  on,"  said  he.  "  You  would  now 
not  know  what  to  do,  but  Perpignan  will  not  hesitate 
for  a  moment.  He  will  tell  you  that  he  holds  the  end 
of  the  clue,  and  that  all  that  remains  to  be  done  is  to 
follow  it  up  carefully." 

"  I  think  you  overrate  Perpignan's  talents," 

"  Not  a  bit ;  each  man  to  his  own  line  of  business. 
Besides,  if  he  wanders  off  the  course,  you  must  get  him 
back  to  it.  In  this  you  must  act  diplomatically.  His 
first  move  will  naturally  be  to  take  you  to  the  office  of 
the  mayor  of  the  township,  where  a  register  of  licenses 
is  kept.    There  you  will  find  that  in  September,  1857, 


222         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

there  passed  through  the  place  a  troop  of  travelHng 
performers,  consisting  of  nine  persons,  with  the  cara- 
vans, under  the  management  of  a  man  known  as 
Vigoureux,  nicknamed  the  Grasshopper." 

Catenae  rapidly  jotted  down  these  items.  "  Not  so 
fast,"  said  he ;  "I  cannot  follow  you." 

After  a  short  pause,  Mascarin  continued. 

"  An  attentive  examination  of  the  book  will  prove  to 
you  that  no  other  troupe  of  itinerant  performers  passed 
through  the  place  during  that  month;  and  it  is  clear 
that  it  must  have  been  the  Grasshopper  with  whom  the 
lad  went  away.  You  will  then  peruse  the  man's  de- 
scription. Vigoureux,  born  at  Bourgogne,  Vosges. 
Age,  forty-seven.  Height,  six  feet  two  inches.  Eyes, 
small  and  gray,  rather  near-sighted.  Complexion  dark. 
Third  finger  of  left  hand  cut  ofT  at  first  joint.  If  you 
confound  him,  after  reading  this,  with  any  other  man 
of  his  profession,  you  must  certainly  be  rather  foolish." 

"  I  shall  now  be  able  to  find  him,"  muttered  Catenae. 

"  But  that  is  Perpignan's  business.  You  will  see  him 
put  on  an  air  of  the  greatest  importance,  and  appear 
quite  overjoyed  at  the  news  he  has  obtained  at  the  office 
of  the  mayor.  He  will  say  that  the  inquiry  at  Ven- 
dome  is  over,  and  that  it  will  be  best  to  return  to  Paris 
at  once.  Of  course,  you  will  make  no  objection.  You 
will  permit  the  Duke  to  make  a  handsome  present  to 
Lorgelin  and  Frejot;  but  take  care  not  to  leave  him 
behind  you.  I  advise  you  to  regain  Paris  without  a 
moment's  delay.  The  wily  Perpignan,  on  your  return, 
will  at  once  take  you  to  the  head  police  office,  where 
Vigoureux  will  have  left  his  papers,  like  other  men 
of  his  profession.  If  there  is  any  difficulty  in  ob- 
taining a  sight  of  them,  the  Duke  de  Champdoce 
will  act  as  a  talisman.    You  will  then  discover  that  in 


A   SUDDEN    CHECK  223 

'1864,  the  man  Vigoureux  was  sentenced  to  a  term  of 
imprisonment  for  disorderly  conduct,  and  that  he  now 
keeps  a  wine-shop  at  the  corner  of  the  Rue  Depleux." 

"  Stop  a  bit,"  said  Catenae,  "  and  let  me  take  down 
the  address." 

"  When  you  go  there,  you  will  recognize  Vigoureux 
by  the  loss  of  his  finger.  He  will  at  once  admit  that  the 
lad  followed  him,  and  remained  in  the  troupe  for  ten 
months.  He  was  a  good  enough  lad,  but  as  grand  as 
a  peacock,  and  as  lazy  as  a  dormouse.  He  made  great 
friends  with  an  old  Alsatian,  called  Fritz,  who  was 
the  conductor  of  the  orchestra,  and  by-and-by  both 
were  so  fond  of  each  other,  that  one  day  they  went  off 
in  each  other's  company.  Now  you  want  to  know  what 
has  become  of  Fritz  ?  I  know  Vigoureux  will  get  tired 
of  this  prolonged  string  of  questions,  and  behave  vio- 
lently; then  you  will  threaten  him  for  having  carried 
off  a  youth  of  tender  years,  and  he  will  calm  down, 
and  become  as  mild  as  mother's  milk,  and  will  prom- 
ise to  gain  information  for  you.  In  a  week  he  will 
give  the  information  that  Fritz  is  to  be  found  at  the 
Hospital  Magloire." 

Absolutely  dumb  with  surprise,  the  audience  listened 
to  these  strange  assertions,  which  dovetailed  so  exactly 
into  each  other,  and  seemed  to  have  been  the  work  of 
years  of  research. 

"  Fritz,"  continued  Mascarin,  "  is  a  sly  old  dog. 
You  will  find  an  old,  rickety,  blue-eyed  man  at  the 
hospital,  and  remember  to  tell  the  Duke  de  Champdoce 
that  he  must  not  put  too  much  faith  in  him.  This  wily 
old  Alsatian  will  tell  you  of  all  the  sacrifices  he  made 
for  the  dear  lad.  He  will  tell  you  that  he  often  went 
without  his  beer  and  tobacco  in  order  to  pay  for  the 
music  lessons  that  he  forced  the  boy  to  take.    He  will 


224         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

tell  you  that  he  wanted  to  get  him  into  the  Government 
School  of  Music,  for  that  he  possessed  great  vocal  and 
instrumental  talent,  and  he  cherished  the  hope  of  one 
day  seeing  him  a  great  composer,  like  Weber  or  Mo- 
zart. I  expect  that  this  flow  of  self-praise  will  melt  the 
heart  of  your  client,  for  he  will  see  that  his  son  had 
made  an  effort  to  rise  out  of  the  mire  by  his  own  ex- 
ertions, and  will,  in  this  energy,  recognize  one  of  the 
characteristics  of  the  Champdoce  family ;  and  on  the 
strength  of  this  testimony  he  will  almost  be  ready  to 
accept  the  young  man  as  his  son." 

Catenae  had  for  some  time  past  been  striving  to  de- 
cipher the  meaning  hidden  behind  the  inscrutable 
countenance  of  Mascarin,  but  in  vain. 

"  Let  us  get  on,"  said  the  lawyer  impatiently.  "  All 
that  you  have  told  me  I  shall  hear  later  on  in  the  course 
of  the  inquiry." 

"  If  your  sagacity  requires  no  further  explanation 
from  me,"  rejoined  Mascarin,  "  you  will,  I  trust,  per- 
mit me  to  continue  them  for  the  benefit  of  our  young 
friend,  Paul  Violaine.  You  will  feel  compassion  when 
the  Alsatian  tells  you  of  his  sufferings,  at  the  boys' 
description  of  him,  and  his  subsequent  prosperity  in  the 
Rue  d'Arras.  You  had  better  listen  to  the  old  man  as 
long  as  he  continues  to  grumble  on,  the  more  so  as  you 
will  detect  in  the  rancor  and  bitterness  of  his  remarks 
all  the  vexation  of  a  disappointed  speculator.  He  will 
confess  to  you  besides  that  he  subsists  entirely  on  the 
bounty  of  the  lad,  whom  he  had  stigmatized  as  an  un- 
grateful villain.  Of  course,  the  Duke  will  have  to 
leave  behind  him  some  testimonial  of  his  pleasure,  and 
you  will  hurry  off  to  the  Rue  d'Arras.  The  proprietor 
of  the  house  will  tell  you  that  some  four  years  ago  he 
got  rid  of  this  musician,  the  only  one  of  his  class  who 


A   SUDDEN    CHECK  225 

had  dared  to  establish  himself  there,  and  a  small  pres- 
ent and  a  few  adroit  questions  will  obtain  for  you  the 
address  of  one  of  the  young  man's  pupils,  Madame 
Grandorge,  a  widow  lady,  residing  in  the  Rue  St. 
Louis.  This  lady  will  tell  you  that  she  does  not  know 
the  address  of  her  former  master,  but  that  he  used  to 
live  at  57,  Rue  de  la  Harpe.  From  the  Rue  de  la 
Harpe  you  will  be  sent  to  the  Rue  Jacob,  and  from 
thence  to  the  Rue  Montmartre,  at  the  corner  of  the 
Rue  Joquelet." 

Mascarin  paused,  drew  a  long  breath,  and  chuckled 
inwardly,  as  though  at  some  excellent  joke. 

"  Be  comforted.  Catenae,"  said  he.  "  You  have 
nearly  reached  the  end  of  your  journey.  The  portress 
at  the  house  in  the  Rue  Montmartre  is  the  most  oblig- 
ing woman  in  the  world.  She  will  tell  you  that  the 
musician  still  retains  his  rooms  in  the  house,  but  that 
he  resides  there  no  longer,  for  he  has  made  a  lucky  hit, 
and  last  month  he  married  the  daughter  of  a  wealthy 
banker  living  close  by.  The  young  lady,  Mademoiselle 
Rigal,  saw  him,  and  fell  in  love  with  him." 

A  clever  man  like  Catenae  should  have  foreseen 
what  was  coming,  but  he  had  not,  and  at  this  conclu- 
sion he  uttered  a  loud  exclamation  of  surprise. 

"  Yes,  just  so,"  said  Mascarin,  with  an  air  of  bland 
triumph.  "  The  Duke  de  Champdoce  will  then  drag 
you  off  to  our  mutual  friend  Martin  Rigal,  and  there 
you  will  find  our  young  protege,  the  happy  husband  of 
the  beautiful  Flavia." 

Mascarin  drew  himself  up,  and  adjusted  his  glasses 
firmly  on  his  nose. 

"  Now,  my  dear  Catenae,  show  the  liberality  and 
amiability  of  your  disposition  by  congratulating  our 
friend  Paul  as  Gontran,  Marquis  de  Champdoce." 


226         THE    CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

Hortebise,  of  course,  knew  what  was  coming;  he 
knew  the  lines  of  the  plot  of  the  play  as  if  he  had  been 
a  joint  author  of  it,  and  was  as  much  excited  as  if  he 
were  assisting  at  a  first  rehearsal. 

"  Bravo ! "  he  exclaimed,  clapping  his  hands  to- 
gether. "  Bravo,  my  dear  Mascarin,  you  have  excelled 
yourself  to-day !  " 

Worried  and  perplexed  as  Paul  had  been,  as  Mas- 
carin concluded  he  sank  back  in  his  chair,  sick  and 
giddy  with  emotion. 

"  Yes,"  said  Mascarin  in  a  clear  and  ringing  voice, 
"  I  accept  your  praise  without  any  affectation  of  false 
modesty.  We  have  no  reason  to  fear  the  intervention 
of  that  grain  of  sand  which  sometimes  stops  the  work- 
ing of  the  machine.  Perpignan,  poor  fool  though  he 
is,  will  be  our  best  friend,  and  will  do  our  work  quite 
unconsciously.  Can  the  Duke  retain  any  atom  of  sus- 
picion after  these  minute  investigations?  Impossible. 
But  to  remove  the  slightest  element  of  doubt,  I  have 
another  and  an  additional  plan.  I  will  make  him  re- 
trace the  path  upon  which  he  has  started.  He  shall 
take  Paul  to  all  these  various  places,  and  at  all  of  them 
the  statements  will  be  even  more  fully  confirmed.  Paul, 
the  son-in-law  of  Martin  Rigal,  the  husband  of  Flavia, 
will  be  recognized  in  the  Rue  Montmartre,  the  Rue  Ja- 
cob, and  the  Rue  de  la  Harpe.  He  will  be  joyfully  wel- 
comed in  the  Rue  d'Arras;  Fritz  will  embrace  his  un- 
grateful pupil ;  Vigoureux  will  remind  him  of  his  skill- 
ful feats  on  the  trapeze ;  the  Lorgelin  family  will  press 
the  lad  whom  they  gave  shelter  to,  to  their  hearts,  and 
this  will  happen.  Catenae,  because  I  will  it,  and  because 
all  the  people  from  the  portress  in  the  Rue  Montmartre 
to  the  Lorgelins  are  my  slaves,  and  dare  not  disobey 
one  single  command  which  I  may  issue." 


A   SUDDEN    CHECK  227 

Catenae  rose  slowly  and  solemnly  from  his  seat. 

"  I  recognize  your  patience  and  ingenuity  thor- 
oughly, only  I  am  going  with  one  word  to  crush  the 
fabric  of  hope  that  you  have  so  carefully  erected." 

Catenae  might  be  a  coward,  he  might  also  be  a 
traitor,  but  he  was  a  clever  and  clear-sighted  man  too. 
Consequently  Hortebise  shivered  as  he  heard  these 
words,  but  Mascarin  smiled  disdainfully,  basking  in 
his  dream  of  success. 

"  Go  on  then,"  said  he. 

"  Well,  then,  let  me  tell  you  that  you  will  not  over- 
reach and  deceive  the  Duke." 

"  And  why  not,  pray  ?  "  asked  Mascarin.  "  But  are 
you  sure  that  I  wish  to  deceive  him?  You  have  not 
been  open  with  me,  why  should  I  be  frank  with  you? 
Am  I  in  the  habit  of  confiding  in  those  who  do  not  re- 
pose confidence  in  me  ?  Does  Perpignan  for  a  moment 
suspect  the  part  that  he  is  to  play?  Why  may  I  not 
have  judged  it  best  to  keep  from  you  the  fact  that  Paul 
is  really  the  child  you  are  seeking?" 

Mascarin  spoke  so  confidently  that  Catenae  gazed 
upon  him,  hardly  knowing  to  what  conclusion  to  come, 
for  his  conscience  was  by  no  means  clear.  His  intellect 
quickly  dived  into  the  depths  of  all  probabilities,  and 
yet  he  could  not  see  in  all  these  combinations  any  pos- 
sible peril  to  himself. 

"  I  only  hope,"  said  he,  "  that  Paul  is  all  that  you 
represent  him  to  be;  but  why  all  these  precautions? 
Only,  mark  my  words,  the  Duke  has  an  infallible  way 
of  detecting,  or  rather  of  preventing,  any  attempt  at 
imposition.  It  is  ever  thus,  the  most  trivial  circum- 
stance will  overset  the  best  laid  plans,  and  the  inevi- 
table destroy  the  combinations  of  the  most  astute  in- 
tellect." 


228         THE   CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

Mascarin  interrupted  his  associate. 

"  Paul  is  the  son  of  the  Duke  de  Champdoce,"  said 
he  decisively. 

What  was  the  meaning  of  this?  Catenae  felt  that 
he  was  being  played  with,  and  grew  angry. 

"  As  you  please ;  but  you  will,  I  presume,  permit  me 
to  convince  myself  of  the  truth  of  this  assertion." 

Then,  advancing  towards  Paul,  the  lawyer  said, — 

"  Have  the  goodness  to  remove  your  coat." 

Paul  took  it  off,  and  threw  it  upon  the  back  of  a 
chair. 

"  Now,"  added  Catenae,  "  roll  up  your  right  shirt 
sleeve  to  the  shoulder." 

Scarcely  had  the  young  man  obeyed,  and  the  lawyer 
cast  a  rapid  glance  at  the  bare  flesh,  than  he  turned 
to  his  associates  and  observed, — 

"  No,  he  is  not  the  right  man." 

To  his  extreme  surprise,  Mascarin  and  Hortebise 
burst  into  a  fit  of  unrestrained  laughter, 

"  No,"  pursued  the  lawyer,  "  this  is  not  the  child 
who  was  sent  to  the  Hospital  of  Vendome,  and  the 
Duke  will  recognize  this  better  than  I  can.  You  laugh, 
but  it  is  because  you  do  not  know  all." 

"  Enough,"  returned  Alascarin,  and  then,  turning  to 
the  doctor,  he  remarked,  "  Tell  him,  my  friends,  that 
we  know  more  than  he  thinks." 

"  And  so,"  said  Hortebise,  taking  Paul's  hand,  "  you 
are  certain  that  this  is  not  the  lost  child  because  he  has 
not  certain  marks  about  him;  but  these  will  be  seen 
upon  the  day  on  which  Paul  is  introduced  to  the  Duke, 
and  legibly  enough  to  satisfy  the  most  unbelieving." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Let  me  explain  in  my  own  way.  If  in  early  child- 
hood Paul  had  been  scalded  on  his  shoulder  by  boiling 


A   SUDDEN    CHECK  229 

water,  he  would  have  a  scar  whose  appearance  would 
denote  its  origin  ?  " 

Catenae  nodded.    "  You  are  quite  accurate,"  said  he. 

"  Well,  then,  listen,  Paul  is  coming  home  with  me. 
I  shall  take  him  into  my  consulting-room;  he  will  lie 
on  a  couch.  I  shall  give  him  chloroform,  for  I  do  not 
wish  him  to  suffer  any  pain.  Mascarin  will  help  me. 
Then  I  shall  apply,  on  the  proper  part,  a  piece  of  flan- 
nel steeped  in  a  certain  liquid  which  is  an  invention  of 
my  own.  I  am  not  a  fool,  as  you  may  have  discovered 
before  this ;  and  in  a  drawer  at  home  is  a  piece  of  flan- 
nel cut  so  as  exactly  to  resemble  the  irregular  outline 
of  a  scar  of  the  kind  you  describe,  and  a  few  little  bits 
here  and  there  will  do  the  rest  of  the  work  artistically. 
When  the  liquid  has  effected  its  work,  which  will  be  in 
ten  minutes,  I  shall  remove  it,  and  apply  an  ointment, 
another  invention  of  my  own,  to  the  wound ;  then  I 
shall  restore  Paul  to  his  senses,  and  go  to  dinner." 

Mascarin  rubbed  his  hands  with  delight, 

"  But  you  forget  that  a  certain  space  of  time  is  re- 
quired to  give  a  scar  the  appearance  of  not  having 
been  recent,"  objected  Catenae. 

"  Let  me  speak,"  broke  in  the  doctor.  "  If  we  only 
needed  time — six  months,  say,  or  a  year — we  should 
postpone  our  concluding  act  until  then ;  but  I,  Horte- 
bise,  assure  you  that  in  two  months,  thanks  to  another 
discovery  of  my  own — will  show  you  a  scar  that  will 
pass  muster,  not  perhaps  before  a  fellow-practitioner, 
but  certainly  before  the  Duke." 

Catenae's  sunken  eyes  blazed  as  he  thought  of  the 
prospective  millions. 

"  May  the  devil  fly  away  with  all  scruples ! "  cried 
he.  "  My  friends,  I  am  yours  soul  and  body ;  you  may 
rely  on  your  devoted  Catenae." 


230         THE    CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

The  doctor  and  Mascarin  exchanged  a  look  of  tri- 
umph. 

"  Of  course  we  share  and  share  ahke,"  observed  the 
lawyer.  "  It  is  true  that  I  come  in  rather  late ;  but 
the  part  I  play  is  a  delicate  and  an  important  one,  and 
you  can  do  nothing  without  me." 

"  You  shall  have  your  share,"  answered  Mascarin 
evasively. 

"  One  word  more,"  said  the  lawyer.  "  Do  you  think 
that  the  Duke  has  kept  nothing  back?  The  infant 
was  hardly  seen  by  him  or  the  Duchess ;  but  Jean  saw 
it,  and  he,  though  very  old  and  infirm,  would  come 
forward  at  any  moment  to  defend  the  name  and  honor 
of  the  Champdoce  family." 

"  Well,  and  what  then  ?  " 

"  Jean,  you  know,  was  against  the  substitution  of 
another  child.  May  he  not  have  foreseen  the  chance 
of  such  a  case  as  this  arising?" 

Mascarin  looked  grave.  "  I  have  thought  of  that 
before,"  returned  he ;  "  but  what  can  be  done  ?  " 

"  I  will  find  out,"  said  Catenae.  "  Jean  has  the 
most  implicit  confidence  in  me,  and  I  will  question 
him." 

The  cold  calmness  of  the  lawyer  had  vanished,  and 
Catenae  only  displayed  the  zealous  eagerness  of  the 
man  who,  admitted  at  a  late  hour  into  an  enterprise 
which  he  imagines  will  be  lucrative,  burns  to  do  as 
much  as  he  can  to  further  it. 

"  But,"  added  he,  as  an  after-thought,  "  how  can 
we  be  certain  that  there  is  no  one  to  recognize  Paul  ?  " 

"  I  can  answer  for  that ;  his  poverty  had  isolated 
him  from  all  but  a  woman  named  Rose,  and  I  took 
care  that  she  should  be  sent  to  the  prison  of  St.  La- 
zare.    At  one  time  I  was  a  little  anxious,  as  I  heard 


A   SUDDEN    CHECK  231 

that  Paul  had  a  patron;  but  he,  as  I  have  found  out, 
was  the  Count  de  Mussidan,  the  murderer  of  Mont- 
louis,  who,  as  you  may  have  guessed,  was  Paul's 
father." 

"  We  have  nothing,  then,  to  fear  from  that  quar- 
ter," said  the  doctor. 

"  Nothing ;  and  while  you  get  on  with  your  work, 
I  will  hurry  on  Paul's  marriage  with  Rigal's  daugh- 
ter. But  this  will  not  prevent  my  busying  myself  in 
another  quarter ;  for  before  a  month  Henri  de  Croise- 
nois  will  have  floated  his  Company,  and  become  the 
husband  of  Sabine  de  Mussidan." 

"  I  think  that  it  is  about  time  for  dinner,"  re- 
marked Hortebise,  and,  turning  to  the  protege  of  the 
association,  he  added,  "  Come,  Paul." 

But  Paul  made  no  movement,  and  then  for  the  first 
time  it  was  seen  that  the  poor  boy  had  fainted,  and 
they  had  to  sprinkle  cold  water  upon  him  before  he 
regained  consciousness. 

"  Surely,"  remarked  the  doctor,  "  it  is  not  the  idea 
of  a  trifling  operation  that  you  will  not  feel  which 
has  so  frightened  you  ?  " 

Paul  shook  his  head.    "  It  is  not  that,"  said  he.  . 

"What,  then,  is  it?" 

"  Simply  that  the  real  man  exists ;  I  know  him,  and 
know  where  he  lives." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  they  cried. 

"  I  know  him,  I  tell  you — the  son  of  the  Duke  de 
Champdoce." 

"  Let  us  hear  all ! "  cried  Mascarin,  who  was  the 
first  to  come  to  his  senses.    "  Explain  yourself." 

"  Simply  this.  I  know  such  a  young  man,  and  it 
was  the  thought  of  this  that  made  me  feel  so  ill.  He 
is  thirty-three.     He  was  at  the  Foundling  Hospital; 


232         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

he  left  it  at  the  age  of  twelve  and  a  half  years ;  and 
he  has  just  such  a  scald  on  his  shoulder,  which  he 
got  when  he  was  apprenticed  to  a  tanner." 

"  And  where,"  asked  Mascarin  quickly,  "  is  this 
same  young  man?  What  is  his  name,  and  what  does 
he  do  for  a  living?" 

"  He  is  a  painter ;  his  name  is  Andre,  and  he 
lives " 

A  blasphemous  oath  from  Mascarin  interrupted  him. 
"  This  is  the  third  time,"  said  he  fiercely,  "  that  this 
cursed  fellow  has  crossed  our  path ;  but  I  swear  that 
it  shall  be  the  last." 

Hortebise  and  Catenae  were  livid  with  alarm. 

"  What  do  you  intend  to  do  ?  "  asked  they. 

"  I  shall  do  nothing,"  answered  he ;  "  but  you  know 
that  this  Andre,  in  addition  to  being  a  painter,  is  an 
ornamental  sculptor  and  house  decorator,  and  so  is 
often  on  lofty  scafifolds.  Have  you  never  heard  that 
accidents  frequently  happen  to  that  class  of  people  ?  " 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

A     MELANCHOLY     MASHER. 

When  Mascarin  spoke  of  suppressing  the  man  who 
stood  in  his  way  as  easily  as  if  he  was  alluding  to 
extinguishing  a  candle,  he  was  not  aware  that  there 
was  one  circumstance  which  considerably  enhanced 
the  difficulty  of  his  task,  for  Andre  had  been  fore- 
warned, and  this  note  of  warning  had  been  sounded 
on  the  day  on  which  he  had  received  that  letter  from 


A   MELANCHOLY   MASHER  233 

Sabine,  in  which  she  spoke  in  such  despairing  terms 
of  her  approaching  marriage,  which  she  had  been 
compelled  to  agree  to  to  save  the  honor  of  her  fam- 
ily. This  feeling  was  strengthened  by  a  long  conver- 
sation he  had  had  with  M.  de  Breulh-Faverlay  and  the 
Viscountess  de  Bois  Arden,  in  which  it  was  unani- 
mously decided  that  the  Count  and  Countess  de  Mus- 
sidan  were  victims  of  some  plot  of  which  Henri  de 
Croisenois  was  certainly  one  of  the  promoters.  He 
had  no  conception  on  what  side  to  look  for  the  danger, 
but  he  had  an  instinctive  feeling  that  it  was  impend- 
ing. He  prepared,  therefore,  to  act  on  the  defensive. 
It  was  not  only  his  life  that  was  in  danger,  but  his  love 
and  his  future  happiness.  M.  de  Breulh-Faverlay  had 
also  serious  apprehensions  for  the  safety  of  a  man  for 
whom  he  entertained  so  great  a  respect  and  regard. 

"  I  would  lay  a  heavy  wager,"  said  he,  "  that  we 
have  to  do  with  some  villainous  blackmailers,  and  the. 
difficulty  of  the  business  is,  that  we  must  do  the  work 
ourselves,  for  we  dare  not  invite  the  aid  of  the  police. 
We  have  no  proof  to  offer,  and  the  police  will  not  stir 
a  foot  on  mere  suppositions,  and  we  should  not  earn 
the  thanks  of  those  we  are  desirous  of  assisting  if 
we  called  the  attention  of  the  law  to  certain  acts  in 
their  past  lives ;  for  who  can  say  what  the  terrible 
secret  is,  that  some  vile  wretch  holds  over  the  heads 
of  M.  and  Madame  de  Mussidan?  and  it  is  quite  on 
the  cards  that  the  Count  and  the  Countess  might  be 
compelled  to  join  the  blackmailers  and  oppose  us. 
We  must  act  with  the  greatest  prudence  and  caution. 
Remember,  that  if  you  are  out  at  night,  you  must  avoid 
dark  corners,  for  it  would  be  the  easiest  thing  in  the 
world  to  put  a  knife  into  your  back." 

The  conclusion  that  was  arrived  at,  at  this  inter- 


234         THE   CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

view,  was  that  for  the  present  Andre  and  De  Breulh 
should  cease  to  see  each  other  so  frequently.  They 
felt  convinced  that  a  watch  had  been  set  on  them,  and 
that  their  intimacy  would  certainly  be  notified  to  De 
Croisenois ;  and  of  course  they  had  every  desire  to 
cause  him  to  imagine  that  they  were  not  acting  in  any 
way  together.  The  arrangement,  therefore,  that  they 
entered  into  was  that  each  should  act  from  his  own 
point  of  vantage  against  Henri  de  Croisenois,  and 
that  when  necessary  they  should  meet  in  the  evening 
to  compare  notes  in  a  small  cafe  in  the  Champs  Ely- 
sees,  not  far  from  the  house  in  which  Andre  was  at 
work. 

His  courage  was  still  as  high  as  ever,  but  the  first 
symptoms  of  rashness  had  vanished.  He  was  a  born 
diplomatist,  and  fully  realized  that  cunning  and  treach- 
ery must  be  met  by  similar  weapons.  He  must  not 
break  his  engagement  to  M.  Gandelu ;  but  how  could 
he  superintend  the  workmen  and  keep  an  eye  on  Croi- 
senois at  the  same  time?  Money  was  absolutely  nec- 
essary, and  yet  he  felt  a  strange  disinclination  to  ac- 
cept a  loan  from  M.  de  Breulh.  If  he  were  to  throw 
up  his  work,  it  would  naturally  create  suspicion. 

M.  Gandelu  had  a  shrewd  head,  and  Andre,  remem- 
bering the  old  man's  kindness  to  him  on  all  occasions, 
determined  to  confide  the  matter  to  him,  and  with 
this  object  he  called  on  him  the  next  morning  as  the 
clock  was  striking  nine.  His  surprise  was  extreme 
when  he  saw  Gaston  de  Gandelu  in  the  courtyard. 
He  was  just  the  same  looking  Gaston,  the  lover  of 
Madame  de  Chantemille,  to  the  outward  eye,  but  some 
grave  calamity  had  evidently  entirely  changed  the 
inner  man.     He  was  smoking  his  cigar  with  an  air 


A   MELANCHOLY    MASHER  235 

of  desperation,  and  seemed  to  be  utterly  weary  of  the 
world  and  its  belongings. 

At  the  moment  Andre  entered  the  young  man 
caught  sight  of  him. 

"  Halloo!  "  said  he;  "here  is  my  artistic  friend.  I 
lay  ten  to  one  that  you  have  come  to  ask  my  father  to 
do  you  a  favor." 

"  You  are  quite  right;  is  he  at  home?  " 

"  The  governor  is  in  the  sulks ;  he  has  shut  himself 
up,  and  will  not  see  me." 

"  You  are  joking." 

"  Not  I ;  the  old  man  is  a  regular  despot,  and  I  am 
sick  of  everything." 

Noticing  that  one  of  the  grooms  was  listening,  Gas- 
ton had  sufficient  sense  to  draw  Andre  a  little  on  one 
side. 

"  Do  you  know,"  asked  he,  "  that  the  governor  has 
docked  my  screw  and  vows  that  he  will  advertise  him- 
self as  not  responsible  for  the  debts  of  yours  truly; 
but  I  cannot  think  he  will  do  so,  for  that  would  be  a 
regular  smash-up  for  me.  You  haven't  such  a  trifle 
as  ten  thousand  francs  about  you  that  you  could  lend 
me,  have  you?  I'd  give  twenty  thousand  for  the  ac- 
commodation when  I  came  of  age." 

"  I  must  say ,"  began  Andre. 

"  All  right ;  never  mind  ;  I  understand.  If  you  had 
the  ready,  you  wouldn't  be  hanging  about  here;  but 
for  all  that,  I  must  have  the  cash.  Hang  it  all,  I 
signed  bills  to  that  amount  payable  to  Verminet.  Do 
you  know  the  fellow?" 

"  Not  at  all." 

"  Where  were  you  dragged  up  ?  Why,  he  is  the 
head  of  the  Mutual  Loan  Society.  The  only  nuisance 


236  THE    CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

is,  that  to  make  matters  run  a  bit  smooth,  I  wrote 
down  the  wrong  name.    Do  you  tumble,  eh  ?  " 

"  But,  great  heavens !  that  is  forgery,"  said  Andre, 
aghast. 

"  Not  a  bit,  for  I  always  intended  to  pay ;  besides,  I 
wanted  the  money  to  square  Van  Klopen.  You  know 
him,  I  suppose?" 

"  No." 

"  Well,  he  is  the  chap  to  dress  a  girl.  I  had  those 
costumes  for  Zora  from  him ;  but  it  is  out  and  out 
the  governor's  fault.  Why  did  he  drive  me  to  des- 
peration? Yes,  it  is  all  the  old  man's  doing.  He 
wasn't  satisfied  with  pitching  into  me,  but  he  collared 
that  poor,  helpless  lamb  and  shut  her  up.  She  never 
did  him  any  harm,  and  I  call  it  a  right  down  cow- 
ardly and  despicable  act  to  hurt  Zora." 

"  Zora,"  repeated  Andre,  who  did  not  recognize  the 
name. 

"  Yes,  Zora ;  you  know ;  you  had  a  feed  with  us 
one  day." 

"  Yes,  yes ;  you  mean  Rose." 

"  That's  it ;  but  I  don't  like  any  one  to  call  her  by 
that  ugly,  common  name.  Well,  the  governor  has 
gone  mad  about  her,  and  filed  a  complaint  against 
her  of  decoying  a  minor,  as  if  I  was  a  fellow  any 
one  could  decoy.  Well,  the  end  of  it  was,  that  she  is 
now  in  the  prison  of  St.  Lazare." 

The  tears  started  to  the  young  man's  eyes  as  he 
related  his  grievance. 

"  Poor  Zora,"  he  added ;  "  I  was  never  mashed  on  a 
woman  Hke  I  was  on  her.  And  then  what  a  splendid 
form  she  was !  Why,  the  hairdresser  said  he  had 
never  seen  such  hair  in  his  life;  and  she  is  at  St. 


A   MELANCHOLY   MASHER  237 

Lazare.  As  soon  as  the  police  came  for  her,  her  first 
thoughts  were  of  me,  and  she  shrieked  out,  *  Poor 
Gaston  will  kill  himself  when  he  hears  of  this/  The 
cook  told  me  this,  and  added  that  her  mistress's  suf- 
ferings were  terrible.  And  she  is  at  St.  Lazare.  I 
tried  to  see  her,  but  it  was  no  go" ;  and  here  the  boy's 
voice  broke  into  a  sob. 

"  Come,"  said  Andre,  "  keep  up  your  spirits." 

"  Ah !  you  shall  see  if,  as  soon  as  I  am  twenty-one, 
I  don't  marry  her.  I  don't  put  all  the  blame  on  the 
old  man.  He  has  been  advised  by  his  lawyer,  a  beast 
by  the  name  of  Catenae.    Do  you  know  him?" 

"  No." 

"  You  don't  seem  to  know  any  one.  Well,  I  shall 
send  him  a  challenge  to-morrow.  I  have  got  my  sec- 
onds all  ready.  By  the  way,  would  you  like  to  act 
for  me?    I  can  easily  get  rid  of  one  of  the  others." 

"  I  have  had  no  experience  in  such  matters." 

"  Ah,  then  you  would  be  of  no  use.  My  seconds 
must  put  him  into  a  regular  blue  funk." 

"  In  that  case " 

"  No ;  I  know  what  you  are  going  to  say :  you  mean 
that  I  had  best  look  out  for  a  military  swell;  but, 
after  all,  the  matter  lies  in  a  nutshell.  I  am  the  in- 
sulted party,  and  draw  pistols  at  ten  paces.  If  that 
frightens  him,  he  will  make  the  governor  drop  all  this 
rubbish." 

Had  his  mind  not  been  so  much  occupied,  this  rho- 
domontade  on  Gaston's  part  would  have  amused  Andre 
very  much,  but  now  he  asked  himself  what  would  be 
the  quickest  way  to  escape  from  him. 

Just  at  this  moment  a  servant  emerged  from  the 
house. 


238         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

"  Sir,"  said  he,  addressing  Andre,  "  my  master  has 
seen  you  from  his  window,  and  begs  that  you  will  go 
up  to  him  at  once." 

"  I  will  be  with  him  immediately,"  answered  Andre ; 
and,  holding  out  his  hand  to  Gaston,  he  took  leave 
of  him  with  a  few  words  of  encouragement. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

A     GENTLEMAN     IN     DIFFICULTIES. 

When  Andre  had  got  rid  of  the  young  man,  and 
had  been  ushered  into  M.  Gandelu's  presence,  the 
change  in  that  gentleman's  appearance  struck  him  with 
horror.  His  eyes  were  red  and  swollen  as  if  he  had 
been  weeping,  but  as  soon  as  he  caught  sight  of  Andre 
his  face  brightened,  and  he  welcomed  him  warmly. 

"  Oh,  it  does  me  good  to  see  you,  and  I  bless  the 
fortunate  chance  that  has  brought  you  here  to-day." 

"  It  is  not  a  very  fortunate  chance,"  answered 
Andre,  as  he  shook  his  head  sadly. 

For  the  first  time  Gandelu  noticed  the  air  of  gravity 
which  marked  the  young  man,  and  the  shade  of  sor- 
row upon  his  brow. 

"What  ails  you,  Andre?"  asked  he. 

"  A  great  misfortune  is  hanging  over  me," 

"  What  do  you  mean?  " 

"  The  naked  truth  and  this  misfortune  may  bring 
death  and  despair  to  me." 

"  I  am  your  friend,  my  dear  boy,"  said  the  old  man, 
"  and  would  gladly  be  of  service  to  you.  Tell  me  if 
I  can  be  of  any  use  ?  " 

"  I  come  to  you  to-day  to  ask  a  favo/  at  your 
hands." 


A   GENTLEMAN    IN   DIFFICULTIES    239 

"And  you  thought  of  the  old  man,  then?  I  thank 
you  for  doing"  so.  Give  me  your  hand ;  I  like  to  feel 
the  grasp  of  an  honest  man's  hand;  it  warms  my 
heart." 

"  It  is  the  secret  of  my  life  that  I  am  going  to  con- 
fide to  you,"  said  he,  with  some  solemnity. 

M.  Gandelu  made  no  reply,  but  struck  his  clenched 
fist  upon  his  breast,  as  though  to  show  that  any  secret 
confided  to  him  would  be  locked  up  in  the  safe  se- 
curity of  his  heart. 

Then  Andre  hesitated  no  longer,  and,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  giving  names,  told  the  whole  story  of  his 
love,  his  ambitions,  and  his  hopes,  and  gave  a  clear 
account  of  how  matters  stood. 

"  How  can  I  help  you  ?  "  asked  M.  Gandelu. 

"  Allow  me,"  said  Andre,  "  to  hand  over  the  work 
with  which  you  have  intrusted  me  to  one  of  my 
friends.  I  will  retain  the  responsibility,  but  will  merely 
act  as  one  of  the  workmen.  This,  to  a  certain  extent, 
will  give  me  my  liberty,  while  at  the  same  time  I 
shall  be  earning  a  little  money,  which  is  just  now  of 
vast  importance  to  me." 

"  Is  that  what  you  call  a  favor  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  and  a  very  great  one,  too." 

Gandelu  rose  hastily,  and,  opening  an  iron  safe 
which  stood  in  one  corner  of  the  room,  and  taking 
from  it  a  bundle  of  banknotes,  he  placed  them  on  the 
table  before  Andre  with  an  expressive  look,  which 
meant,  "  Take  what  you  desire." 

The  unlooked-for  kindness  of  this  man,  who  forgot 
all  his  own  sorrows  in  his  anxiety  to  relieve  the  ne- 
cessities of  another,  affected  Andre  deeply. 

"  I  do  not  need  money,"  began  he. 

With  a  wave  of  his  hand  Gandelu  inspired  silence. 


240         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

"  Take  these  twenty  thousand  francs,"  said  he,  "  and 
then  I  can  tell  you  why  I  asked  you  to  come  upstairs." 

A  refusal  would  have  wounded  the  old  man  deeply, 
and  so  Andre  took  the  proffered  loan. 

Gandelu  resumed  his  seat,  and  remained  in  gloomy 
silence  for  some  time. 

"  My  dear  boy,"  said  he,  in  a  voice  broken  by  emo- 
tion, "  a  day  or  two  back  you  saw  something  of  the 
trouble  that  I  am  laboring  under.  I  have  no  longer 
any  respect  or  esteem  for  that  wretched  fool,  my  son, 
Pierre." 

Andre  had  already  guessed  that  he  had  been  in- 
censed with  reference  to  something  connected  with 
Gaston. 

"  Your  son  has  behaved  very  foolishly,"  said  he ; 
"  but  remember  he  is  very  young." 

A  sad  smile  passed  over  the  old  man's  face. 

",  My  son  is  old  in  vice,"  replied  he.  "  I  have 
thought  the  matter  over  only  too  plainly.  Yesterday 
he  declared  that  he  would  kill  himself.  An  absurd 
threat.  Up  to  this  time  I  have  been  culpably  weak, 
and  it  is  no  use  now  to  act  in  an  opposite  direction. 
The  unhappy  boy  is  infatuated  with  a  degraded  woman 
named  Rose,  and  I  have  had  her  locked  up ;  but  I 
have  made  up  my  mind  to  let  her  out  again,  and  also 
to  pay  his  debts.  It  is  weak  folly,  I  allow ;  but  what 
am  I  to  do  ?  I  am  his  father  after  all ;  and  while  I 
cannot  respect  her,  I  must  love  him.  He  has  almost 
broken  my  heart,  but  it  was  his  to  do  as  he  liked 
with." 

Andre  made  no  reply,  and  Gandelu  went  on. 

"  I  have  not  deceived  myself ;  my  son  is  ruined. 
I  can  but  stand  by  and  wait  for  the  end.  If  this  Rose 
is  not  everything  that  is  bad,  her  influence  may  be 


A   GENTLEMAN    IN   DIFFICULTIES    241 

of  some  use  to  him.  But  I  want  some  one  to  under- 
take these  negotiations,  and  I  had  hopes,  Andre,  that 
you  would  have  been  able  to  do  so." 

Andre  felt  that  all  his  efforts  ought  to  be  devoted 
to  the  interests  of  Sabine,  but  at  the  same  time  he 
could  not  leave  the  kind  old  man  to  the  mercy  of 
others,  and  by  a  display  of  absolute  heroism  he  deter- 
mined to  accede  to  the  broken-hearted  father's  de- 
sires and  briefly  told  him  that  he  was  at  his  service. 
Gandelu  thanked  him  warmly,  and  Andre,  seating 
himself  at  the  table,  the  two  men  entered  into  a  long 
discussion  as  to  the  best  means  to  be  adopted.  It 
was  finally  decided  that  Andre  should  act  with  free- 
dom and  according  to  his  own  instincts,  and  that  M. 
Gandelu  should,  to  actual  appearance,  remain  firm  in 
the  course  he  had  entered  upon,  and  should  only  be 
induced,  by  Andre's  intercession,  to  adopt  milder  meas- 
ures. The  result  justified  their  anticipations,  for  Gas- 
ton was  even  more  crushed  and  downcast  than  Andre 
had  imagined,  and  it  was  in  an  agony  of  suspense  that 
he  awaited  the  return  of  the  young  painter.  As  soon 
as  he  saw  him  descending  the  steps  he  sprang  forward 
to  greet  him. 

"  Well,"  said  he,  in  a  tone  of  eager  inquiry. 

"  Your  father,"  returned  Andre,  "  is  terribly  angry 
with  you,  but  I  hope  to  be  able  to  induce  him  to  do 
something  for  you." 

"Will  he  set  Zora  at  liberty?" 

"  Perhaps  he  will ;  but  first  he  must  have  something 
more  from  you  than  promises — he  must  have  stable 
guarantees." 

At  these  words  Gaston's  face  fell,  "Guarantees," 
answered  he  sulkily.  "  Is  not  my  word  of  honor 
enough  ?    What  sort  of  guarantees  does  he  require  ?  " 


242         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

"  That  I  cannot  tell  you,  and  you  must  find  out  for 
yourself ;  but  I  will  do  all  I  can  for  you." 

Gaston  gazed  upon  Andre  in  surprise. 

"  Do  you  mean  to  tell  me,"  asked  he,  "  that  you 
can  do  pretty  well  what  you  like  with  the  governor  ?  " 

"  Not  exactly ;  but  surely  you  can  see  that  I  have  a 
good  deal  of  influence  over  him.  If  you  want  a  proof 
of  this,  see,  here  is  the  money  to  take  up  these  bills 
you  told  me  of." 

"What,  Verminet's?" 

"  I  suppose  so.  I  am  speaking  of  those  to  which 
you  were  mad  enough  to  forge  another  man's  name." 

Foolish  as  the  boy  was,  this  act  of  his  had  caused 
him  many  a  sleepless  night,  and  he  had  reflected  very 
often  how  he  could  possibly  escape  from  the  conse- 
quence of  his  act  of  rashness. 

"  Give  me  the  money,"  cried  he. 

Andre  shook  his  head,  however.  "  Forgive  me," 
said  he,  "  but  this  money  does  not  quit  my  hands  until 
the  bills  are  handed  over  to  me.  Your  father*s  orders 
on  this  point  are  decided;  but  the  sooner  we  settle 
the  affair  the  better." 

"  That  is  too  bad ;  the  governor  is  as  sly  as  a  fox ; 
but  he  must  have  his  own  way,  I  suppose,  so  come  on. 
Only  just  wait  till  I  slip  on  a  coat  more  suitable  to 
my  position  than  this  lounging  suit." 

He  rushed  away,  and  was  back  again  in  ten  minutes 
as  neat  as  a  new  pin,  and  full  of  gayety  and  good 
spirits. 

"  We  can  walk,"  said  he,  putting  his  arm  through 
Andre's.    "  We  have  to  go  to  the  Rue  St.  Anne." 

Verminet  had  his  office  in  this  street — the  office  of 
the  Mutual  Loan  Society,  of  which  he  was  the  manag- 
ing director.    The  house,  in  spite  of  its  grandiloquent 


RINGING   THE   CHANGES  243 

title,  was  of  excessively  shabby  exterior.  The  Mutual 
Loan  Society  was  frequented  by  those  who,  having 
lost  their  credit,  wished  to  obtain  a  fresh  amount, 
and  who,  having  no  money,  wanted  to  borrow  some. 
Verminet's  plan  of  financial  operations  was  per- 
fectly simple.  A  tradesman  on  the  verge  of  bank- 
ruptcy would  come  to  him.  Verminet  would  look 
into  his  case  and  make  him  sign  bills  for  the  sum  he 
required,  handing  him  in  exchange  bills  drawn  by 
other  tradesmen  in  quite  as  serious  a  predicament  as 
himself,  and  pocketed  a  commission  of  two  per  cent, 
upon  both  the  transactions.  Verminet  obtained  clients 
from  the  simple  fact  that  an  embarrassed  tradesman 
is  utterly  reckless,  cares  not  what  he  signs,  and  will 
clutch  at  a  straw  to  keep  his  head  above  water.  But 
there  were  many  other  transactions  carried  on  at  the 
office  of  the  Mutual  Loan  Society,  for  its  largest 
means  of  income  was  drawn  from  even  less  respect- 
able sources,  and  it  was  alleged  that  many  of  these 
bogus  bills  which  are  occasionally  cashed  by  some  re- 
spectable bankers  were  manufactured  there.  At  any 
rate,  Verminet  managed  to  make  money  somehow. 


CHAPTER  XXIII.    . 

RINGING    THE     CHANGES. 

Andre,  who  was  gifted  with  plenty  of  intelligence, 
at  once  judged  of  the  kind  of  business  done  by  the  Mu- 
tual Loan  Society  by  the  dinginess  of  the  brass  plate 
on  the  door  and  the  generally  dilapidated  aspect  of 
the  house. 

"  I  don't  like  the  look  of  it  at  all,"  said  he. 

"  It  does  not  go  in  for  show,"  answered  Gaston, 


244         THE    CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

affecting  an  air  of  wisdom,  "  but  it  is  deemed  handy 
sometimes.  It  does  all  sorts  of  business  that  you 
would  never  think  of.  A  real  downy  card  is  Ver- 
minet." 

Andre  could  easily  believe  this,  for,  of  course,  there 
could  be  but  one  opinion  concerning  the  character  of 
a  man  who  could  have  induced  a  mere  simpleton  like 
Gaston  to  affix  a  forged  signature  to  the  bills  which 
he  had  discounted.  He  made  no  remark,  however,  but 
entered  the  house,  with  the  interior  arrangements  of 
which  Gaston  appeared  to  be  perfectly  familiar.  They 
passed  through  a  dirty,  ill-smelling  passage,  went 
across  a  courtyard,  cold  and  damp  as  a  cell,  and  as- 
cended a  flight  of  stairs  with  a  grimy  balustrade.  On 
the  second  floor  Gaston  made  a  halt  before  a  door 
upon  which  several  names  were  painted.  They  passed 
through  into  a  large  and  lofty  room.  The  paper  on 
the  walls  of  this  delectable  chamber  was  torn  and 
spotted,  and  a  light  railing  ran  along  it,  behind  which 
sat  two  or  three  clerks,  whose  chief  occupation  ap- 
peared to  be  consuming  the  breakfast  which  they  had 
brought  with  them  to  the  office.  The  heat  of  the 
stove,  which  was  burning  in  one  comer  of  the  room, 
the  general  mouldiness  of  the  atmosphere,  and  the 
smell  of  the  coarse  food,  were  sufficient  to  turn  the 
stomach  of  any  one  coming  in  from  the  fresh  air. 

"Where  is  M.  Verminet?"  asked  Gaston  authori- 
tatively. 

"  Engaged,"  replied  one  of  the  clerks,  without  paus- 
ing to  empty  his  mouth  before  he  replied. 

"  Don't  you  talk  to  me  like  that.  What  do  I  care 
whether  he  is  engaged  or  not?  Tell  him  that  Gaston 
de  Gandelu  desires  to  see  him  at  once." 

The  clerk  was  evidently  impressed  by  his  visitor's 


RINGING   THE   CHANGES  245 

manner,  and,  taking  the  card  which  was  handed  to 
him,  made  his  exit  through  a  door  at  the  other  end 
of  the  room. 

Gaston  was  deUghted  at  this  first  victory,  and 
glanced  at  Andre  with  a  triumphant  smile. 

The  clerk  came  back  almost  at  once.  "  M.  Ver- 
minet,"  cried  he,  "  has  a  client  with  him  just  now. 
He  begs  that  you  will  excuse  him  for  a  few  minutes, 
when  he  will  see  you";  and  evidently  anxious  to  be 
civil  to  the  gorgeously  attired  youths  before  him,  he 
added,  "  My  master  is  just  now  engaged  with  M.  de 
Croisenois." 

"  Aha,"  cried  Gaston ;  "  I  will  lay  you  ten  to  one  that 
the  dear  Marquis  will  be  delighted  to  see  me." 

Andre  started  on  hearing  this  name,  and  his  cheek 
crimsoned.  The  man  whom  he  most  hated  in  this 
world;  the  wretch  who,  by  his  possession  of  some 
compromising  secret,  was  forcing  Sabine  into  a  de- 
tested marriage ;  the  villain  whom  he,  M.  de  Breulh, 
and  Madame  de  Bois  Arden  had  sworn  to  overreach, 
was  within  a  few  paces  of  him,  and  that  now  he  should 
see  him  face  to  face.  Their  eyes  would  meet,  and 
he  would  hear  the  tones  of  the  scoundrel's  voice.  His 
rage  and  agitation  were  so  intense  that  it  was  with 
the  utmost  difficulty  that  he  concealed  it.  Luckily  for 
him,  Gaston  was  not  paying  the  slightest  attention  to 
his  companion;  for  having,  at  the  clerk's  invitation, 
taken  a  chair,  he  assumed  an  imposing  attitude,  which 
struck  the  shabby  young  man  behind  the  railing  with 
the  deepest  admiration. 

"  I  suppose,"  said  he,  in  a  loud  voice,  "  that  you 
know  my  dear  friend,  the  Marquis  ?  " 

Andre  made  some  reply,  which  Gaston  interpreted 
as  a  negative. 


246         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

"  Really,"  said  he,  "  you  know  no  one,  as  I  told  you 
before.  Where  have  you  lived?  But  you  must  have 
heard  of  him  ?  Henri  de  Croisenois  is  one  of  my  most 
intimate  friends.  He  owes  me  over  fifty  louis  that  I 
won  of  him  one  night  at  baccarat." 

Andre  was  now  certain  that  he  had  estimated  Ver- 
minet's  character  correctly,  and  the  relations  of  the 
Marquis  de  Croisenois  with  this  very  equivocal  per- 
sonage assumed  a  meaning  of  great  significance  to 
him.  He  felt  now  that  he  had  gained  a  clue,  a  beacon 
blazed  out  before  him,  and  he  saw  his  way  more 
clearly  into  the  difficult  windings  of  this  labyrinth  of 
iniquity  which  he  knew  that  he  must  penetrate  before 
he  gained  the  secret  he  longed  for. 

He  felt  like  a  child  playing  the  game  called  "Magic 
Music,"  when,  as  the  seeker  nears  the  hiding  place  of 
the  article  of  which  he  is  in  search,  the  strains  of  the 
piano  swell  higher  and  higher.  He  now  found  that 
the  boy  whose  master  he  had  become,  knew,  or  said 
he  knew,  a  good  deal  of  this  marquis.  Why  should  he 
not  gain  some  information  from  him  ?  " 

"  Are  you  really  intimate  with  the  Marquis  de 
Croisenois  ?  "  asked  he. 

"  I  should  rather  think  I  was,"  returned  Gandelu 
the  younger.  "  You  will  see  that  precious  sharp.  I 
know  all  about  him,  and  who  the  girl  is  that  he  is 
ruining  himself  for,  but  I  mustn't  talk  about  that; 
mum's  the  word,  you  know." 

At  that  moment  the  door  opened,  and  the  Marquis 
appeared,  followed  by  Verminet. 

Henri  de  Croisenois  was  attired  in  the  most  fash- 
ionable manner,  and  formed  an  utter  contrast  to  the 
flashy  dress  of  Gaston.  He  was  smoking  a  cigar, 
and  mechanically  tapping  his  boots  with  an  elegant 


RINGING   THE   CHANGES  247 

walking  cane.  In  a  moment  the  features  and  figure 
of  the  Viscount  were  indeHbly  photographed  upon 
Andre's  brain.  He  particularly  noticed  his  eyes,  which 
had  in  them  a  half-concealed  look  of  terror,  and  his 
face  bore  the  haunted  expression  of  a  person  who  ex- 
pects some  terrible  blow  to  fall  upon  him  at  any  mo- 
ment. 

At  a  little  distance  the  Marquis  seemed  still  young, 
but  a  closer  inspection  showed  that  the  man  looked 
even  older  than  he  really  was,  so  worn  and  haggard 
were  his  mouth  and  eyes.  Nights  at  the  gaming-table 
and  the  anxiety  as  to  where  the  fresh  supplies  should 
come  from  to  furnish  the  means  to  prolong  his  life  of 
debauchery  had  told  heavily  upon  him.  To-day,  how- 
ever, he  seemed  to  be  in  the  best  temper  imaginable, 
and  in  the  most  cheerful  manner  he  addressed  a  few 
words  to  Verminet,  in  conclusion  of  the  conversation 
that  had  been  going  on  in  the  inner  office. 

"  It  is  settled  then,"  remarked  he,  "  that  I  am  to 
have  nothing  more  to  do  with  a  business  with  which 
neither  of  us  has  any  real  concern  ?  " 

"Just  so,"  answered  Verminet. 

"  Very  well,  then ;  but  remember  that  any  mistake 
you  may  make  in  the  other  affair  will  be  attended 
with  the  most  serious  results." 

This  caution  seemed  to  suggest  some  new  idea  to 
Verminet,  for  he  said  something  in  a  low  voice  to 
his  client  at  which  they  both  laughed. 

Gaston  was  fidgeting  about,  very  uneasy  at  the  Mar- 
quis having  paid  no  attention  to  him,  and  he  now  ad- 
vanced with  a  magnificent  salutation  and  a  friendly 
wave  of  the  hand.  If  the  Marquis  was  charmed  at 
meeting  Gandelu,  he  concealed  his  delight  in  a  most 
wonderful  manner.     He  seemed   surprised,  but  not 


248         THE    CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

agreeably  so ;  he  bent  his  head,  and  he  extended  his 
gloved  hand  with  a  negligent,  "  Ah,  pleased  to  see 
you."  Then  without  taking  any  more  notice  of  Gas- 
ton, he  turned  on  his  heel  and  continued  his  conversa- 
tion with  Verminet. 

"  The  worst  part  is  over,"  said  he,  "  and  therefore 
no  time  is  to  be  lost.  You  must  see  Mascarin  and 
Martin  Rigal,  the  banker,  to-day." 

At  these  words  Andre  started.  Were  these  people 
Croisenois'  accomplices  ?  Certainly  he  had  accomplices 
on  the  brain  just  now,  and  their  names  remained 
deeply  engraved  on  the  tablets  of  his  memory. 

"  Tantaine  was  here  this  morning,"  observed  Ver- 
minet, "  and  told  me  that  his  master  wanted  to  see  me 
at  four  this  afternoon.  Van  Klopen  will  be  there 
also.  Shall  I  say  a  word  to  him  about  your  fine 
friend?" 

"  'Pon  my  soul,"  remarked  the  Marquis,  shrugging 
his  shoulders,  "  I  had  nearly  forgotten  her.  There 
will  be  a  tremendous  fuss  made,  for  she  will  be  want- 
ing all  sorts  of  things.  Speak  to  Van  Klopen  cer- 
tainly, but  do  not  bind  yourself.  Remember  that  I 
do  not  care  a  bit  for  the  fair  Sara." 

"  Quite  so ;  I  understand,"  answered  Verminet ;  "  but 
keep  things  quiet,  and  do  not  have  any  open  disturb- 
ances." 

"Of  course  not.  Good  morning,"  and  with  a  bow 
to  the  managing  director  and  a  nod  to  Gaston,  he 
lunged  out  of  the  office,  not  condescending  to  take  the 
slightest  notice  of  Andre.  Verminet  invited  Andre 
and  Gaston  into  his  sanctum,  and,  taking  a  seat,  mo- 
tioned to  them  to  do  the  same.  Verminet  was  a  de- 
cided contrast  to  his  office,  which  was  shabby  and 
dirty,  for  his  dress  did  his  tailor  credit,  and  he  ap- 


RINGING   THE   CHANGES  249 

peared  to  be  clean.  He  was  neither  old  nor  young, 
and  carried  his  years  well.  He  was  fresh  and  plump, 
wore  his  whiskers  and  hair  cut  in  the  English  fash- 
ion, while  his  sunken  eyes  had  no  more  expression  in 
them  than  those  of  a  fish. 

Gandelu  was  in  a  hurry  to  begin. 

"  Let  us  get  to  business,"  said  he.  "  Last  week  you 
lent  me  some  money." 

"  Just  so.     Do  you  want  any  more  ?  " 

"  No ;  I  want  to  return  my  bills." 

A  cloud  passed  over  Verminet's  face. 

"  The  first  does  not  fall  due  until  the  15th,"  re- 
marked he. 

"  No  matter ;  I  have  the  money  with  me,  and  I  will 
pay  it  on  you  handing  over  the  bills  to  me." 

"  I  can't  do  it." 

"  And  why  so,  pray  ?  " 

"  The  bills  have  passed  out  of  my  hands." 

Gaston  could  scarcely  credit  his  ears,  nor  believe 
in  the  truth  of  this  last  statement,  and  was  certainly 
upset,  not  knowing  what  to  do. 

"  But,"  stammered  he,  "  you  promised,  when  I 
signed  those  bills,  that  they  should  never  go  out  of 
your  hands." 

"  I  don't  say  I  did  not ;  but  one  can't  always  keep 
to  one's  promise,  I  was  forced  to  part  with  them. 
I  wanted  money,  and  so  had  to  discount  them." 

Andre  was  not  at  all  surprised,  for  he  had  antici- 
pated some  such  difficulty;  and  seeing  that  Gaston 
had  entirely  lo3t  his  head,  he  broke  in  on  the  conver- 
sation. 

"  Excuse  me,  sir,"  remarked  he ;  "  but  it  seems  to 
me  that  there  are  certain  circumstances  in  this  case 
which  should  have  made  you  keep  your  promise. 


2SO         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

Verminet  stared  at  him. 

"  Who  have  I  the  honor  of  speaking  to  ?  "  asked 
he,  instead  of  making  a  direct  reply. 

"  I  am  a  friend  of  M.  de  Gandelu's,"  returned 
Andre,  thinking  it  best  not  to  give  any  name. 

"  A  confidential  friend  ?  " 

"  Entirely  so.  He  had,  I  think,  ten  thousand  francs 
from  you." 

"  Pardon  me,  five  thousand." 

Andre  turned  toward  his  companion  in  some  sur- 
prise. 

Gaston  grew  crimson. 

"  What  is  the  meaning  of  this  ? "  asked  the 
artist. 

"  Can't  you  see  ?  "  whispered  Gaston.  "  I  had  ten 
because  I  wanted  the  other  five  for  Zora." 

"  Oh,  indeed,"  returned  Andre,  with  a  slight  up- 
lifting of  his  eyebrows.  "  Well,  then,  M.  Verminet, 
it  was  five  thousand  francs  that  you  lent  to  my  young 
friend  here.  That  was  right  enough;  but  what  do 
you  say  to  inducing  him  to  forge  a  signature  ?  " 

"  I !  I  do  such  a  thing  ? "  answered  Verminet. 
"  Why,  I  did  not  know  that  the  signature  was  not 
genuine." 

This  insolent  denial  aroused  the  unhappy  Gaston 
from  his  state  of  stupor. 

"  This  is  too  much,  a  deuced  deal  too  much,"  cried 
he.  "  Did  you  not  yourself  tell  me  that,  for  your  own 
security,  you  must  insist  upon  another  name  in  addi- 
tion to  mine?  Did  you  not  give  me  a  letter,  and  say, 
'  Write  a  signature  like  the  one  at  the  bottom  of 
this,  it  is  that  of  Martin  Rigal,  the  banker  in  the  Rue 
Montmartre'  ?  " 

"  An  utterly  false  accusation,  without  a  shadow  of 


RINGING   THE   CHANGES  251 

proof;  and  remember  that  a  libel  uttered  in  the  pres- 
ence of  a  third  party  is  punishable  by  law." 

"  And  yet,  sir,"  continued  Andre,  "  you  did  not 
hesitate  for  a  moment  in  discounting  these  bills.  Have 
you  calculated  what  terrible  results  may  come  of  this 
breach  of  faith  on  your  part? — what  will  happen  if 
this  forged  signature  is  presented  to  M.  Martin  Ri- 
gal?" 

"  Very  unlikely.  Gandelu  is  the  drawer,  Rigal 
merely  the  endorser.  Bills,  when  due,  are  always 
presented  to  the  drawer,"  returned  Verminet  laconi- 
cally. 

Evidently  a  trap  had  been  laid  for  Gaston,  but  the 
reason  was  still  buried  in  obscurity, 

"  Then,"  remarked  Andre,  "  we  have  but  one  course 
to  pursue:  we  must  trace  those  notes  to  the  hands  in 
which  they  now  are,  and  take  them  up." 

"  Quite  right." 

**  But  to  enable  us  to  do  so,  you  must  first  let  us 
know  the  name  of  the  party  who  discounted  them." 

"  I  don't  know ;  I  have  forgotten,"  answered  Ver- 
minet, with  a  careless  wave  of  his  hand. 

"  Then,"  returned  Andre,  in  a  low,  deep  voice  of 
concentrated  fury,  "  let  me  advise  you,  for  your  own 
sake,  to  make  an  immediate  call  upon  your  powers  of 
memory." 

"  Do  you  threaten  me  ?  " 

"  And  if  you  do  not  succeed  in  remembering  the 
name  or  names,  the  consequences  may  be  more  seri- 
ous than  you  seem  to  anticipate." 

Verminet  saw  that  the  young  painter  was  in  danger- 
ous earnest,  and  rose  from  his  chair,  but  Andre  was 
too  quick  for  him. 

"  No,"  said  he,  placing  his  back  against  the  door ; 


252         THE   CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

"you  will  not  leave  this  room  until  you  have  done 
what  I  require." 

For  fully  ten  minutes  the  men  stood  gazing  at  each 
other.  Verminet  was  green  with  terror,  while  Andre's 
face,  though  pale,  was  firm  and  determined. 

"  If  the  scoundrel  makes  any  resistance,"  said  he  to 
himself,  "  I  will  fling  him  out  of  the  window." 

"  The  man  is  a  perfect  athlete,"  thought  Verminet, 
"  and  looks  as  if  he  would  stick  at  nothing." 

Seeing  that  he  had  better  give  in,  the  managing 
director  took  up  a  bulky  ledger,  and  began  to  turn 
over  the  leaves  with  trembling  fingers. 

Andre  saw  that  he  was  holding  it  upside  down. 

"  There  it  is,"  cried  Verminet  at  last. 

"  Bills  for  five  thousand  francs.  Gandelu  and  Rigal, 
booked  for  discount  to  Van  Klopen,  ladies'  tailor." 

Andre  was  silent. 

Why  was  it  that  Verminet  had  suggested  Rigal's 
signature  as  the  one  he  ought  to  imitate  ?  and  why  had 
he  handed  the  bills  over  to  Van  Klopen?  Was  it 
mere  chance  that  had  arranged  it  all?  He  did  not 
believe  it,  but  felt  sure  that  some  secret  tie  united 
them  all  together,  Verminet,  Van  Klopen,  Rigal,  and 
the  Marquis  de  Croisenois. 

"  Do  you  want  anything  more  ?  "  asked  the  manager 
of  the  Mutual  Loan  Society. 

"  Are  the  bills  in  Van  Klopen's  hands  ?  " 

"  I  can't  say." 

"Never  mind;  he  will  have  to  tell  me  where  they 
are,  if  he  has  not  got  them,"  returned  Andre. 

They  left  the  house,  and  as  soon  as  they  were  again 
in  the  street  Andre  took  his  companion's  arm,  and 
hurried  him  off  in  the  direction  of  the  Rue  de 
Grammont. 


THE   VANISHING   BILLS  253 

"  I  don't  want  to  give  this  thief,  Verminet,  time  to 
warn  Van  Klopen  of  what  has  taken  place;  I  had 
rather  fall  upon  him  with  the  suddenness  of  an  earth- 
quake.   Come,  let  us  go  to  his  establishment  at  once." 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

THE    VANISHING     BILLS. 

Had  Andre  known  a  little  more  of  the  man  he  had 
to  deal  with,  he  would  have  learned  that  no  one  could 
fall  like  an  earthquake  upon  Van  Klopen.  Shut  up  in 
the  sanctum  where  he  composed  the  numberless  cos- 
tumes that  were  the  wonder  and  delight  of  Paris,  Van 
Klopen  made  as  careful  arrangements  to  secure  him- 
self from  interview  as  the  Turk  does  to  guard  the  ap- 
proaches to  his  seraglio;  and  so  Andre  and  Gandelu 
were  accosted  in  the  entrance  hall  by  his  stately  foot- 
men, clad  in  gorgeous  liveries,  glittering  with  gold. 

"  M.  van  Klopen  is  engaged,"  cried  they  with  one 
voice. 

"  Our  business  is  of  the  utmost  importance,"  as- 
serted Andre. 

"  Our  master  is  composing." 

Entreaties,  threats,  and  even  a  bribe  of  one  hundred 
francs  were  alike  useless;  and  Andre,  seeing  that  he 
was  about  to  be  checkmated,  was  half  tempted  to  take 
the  men  by  the  collar  and  hurl  them  on  one  side,  but 
he  calmed  himself,  and,  already  repenting  of  his  vio- 
lence at  Verminet's,  he  determined  on  a  course  of  sub- 
mission, and  so  meekly  followed  the  footmen  into  the 
famous  waiting-room,  styled  by  Van  Klopen  his  pur- 


254         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

gatory.  The  footmen,  however,  had  spoken  the  truth, 
for  several  ladies  of  the  highest  rank  and  standing 
were  awaiting  the  return  of  this  arbiter  elegantiarum. 
All  of  them  turned  as  the  young  men  entered — all 
save  one,  who  was  gazing  out  of  the  window,  drawing 
with  her  pretty  fingers  on  the  window  panes.  Andre 
recognized  her  in  an  instant  as  Madame  de  Bois  Ar- 
den. 

"  Is  it  possible  ?  "  thought  he.  "  Can  the  Countess 
have  returned  here  after  what  has  occurred  ?  " 

Gaston  felt  that  five  charming  pairs  of  eyes  were 
fixed  upon  him,  and  studied  to  assume  his  most  grace- 
ful posture. 

After  a  brief  time  given  to  arrangement,  Andre 
grew  disgusted. 

"  I  wish  that  she  would  fook  round,"  said  he  to  him- 
self. "  I  think  she  would  feel  rather  ashamed.  I  will 
say  a  word  to  her." 

He  rose  from  his  chair,  and,  without  thinking  how 
terribly  he  might  compromise  the  lady,  he  took  up  a 
position  at  her  side.  She  was,  however,  intently 
watching  something  that  was  going  on  in  the  street, 
and  did  not  turn  her  head. 

"  Madame,"  said  he. 

She  started,  and,  as  she  turned  and  recognized 
Andre,  she  uttered  a  little  cry  of  surprise. 

"  Great  heavens !  is  that  you  ?  " 

"  Yes,  it  is  I." 

"  And  here  ?  I  dare  say  that  my  presence  in  this 
place  surprises  you,"  she  went  on,  "  and  that  I  have  a 
short  memory,  and  no  feelings  of  pride." 

Andre  made  no  reply,  and  his  silence  was  a  suffi- 
cient rejoinder  to  the  question. 

"  You  do  me  a  great  injustice,"  muttered  the  Count- 


THE   VANISHING   BILLS  255 

ess.  "  I  am  here  because  De  Breulh  told  me  that  in 
your  interests  I  ought  to  pardon  Van  Klopen,  and  go 
to  him  again  as  I  used  to  do;  so  you  see,  M.  Andre, 
that  it  is  never  safe  to  judge  by  appearance,  and  a 
woman  more  than  anything  else." 

"Will  you  forgive  me?"  asked  Andre  earnestly. 

The  lady  interrupted  him  by  a  little  wave  of  her 
hand,  invisible  to  all  save  to  him,  which  clearly  said, — 

"  Take  care ;  we  are  not  alone." 

She  once  more  turned  her  eyes  towards  the  street, 
and  he  mechanically  did  the  same.  By  this  means 
their  faces  were  hidden  from  observation. 

"  De  Breulh,"  went  on  the  lady,  "  has  heard  a  good 
deal  about  De  Croisenois,  and,  as  no  doubt  you  can 
guess,  but  very  little  to  his  credit,  and  quite  enough 
to  justify  any  father  in  refusing  him  his  daughter's 
hand;  but  in  this  case  it  is  evident  to  me  that  De 
Mussidan  is  yielding  to  a  secret  pressure.  We. must 
ferret  out  some  hidden  crime  in  De  Croisenois'  past 
which  will  force  him  to  withdraw  his  proposal." 

"  I  shall  find  one,"  muttered  Andre. 

"  But  remember  there  is  no  time  to  be  lost.  Ac- 
cording to  our  agreement,  I  treat  him  in  the  most 
charming  manner,  and  he  thinks  that  I  am  entirely  de- 
voted to  his  interests,  and  to-mori:ow  I  have  arranged 
to  introduce  him  to  the  Count  and  Countess  at  the 
Hotel  de  Mussidan,  where  the  Count  and  Countess 
have  agreed  to  receive  him." 

Andre  started  at  this  news. 

"  I  saw,"  continued  the  lady,  "  that  you  were  quite 
right  in  the  opinion  you  had  formed,  for  in  the  first 
place  the  common  danger  has  almost  reconciled  the 
Count  and  Countess  affectionately  to  each  other, 
though  it  is  notorious  that  they  have  always  lived  in 


256         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

the  most  unhappy  manner.  Their  faces  are  careworn 
and  full  of  anxiety,  and  they  watch  every  movement 
of  Sabine  with  eager  eyes.  I  think  that  they  look 
upon  her  as  a  means  of  safety,  but  shudder  at  the 
sacrifice  she  is  making  on  their  account." 

"And  Sabine?" 

"  Her  conduct  is  perfectly  sublime,  and  she  is  ready 
to  consummate  the  sacrifice  without  a  murmur.  Her 
self-sacrificing  devotion  is  perfectly  admirable;  but 
what  is  more  admirable  still  is  the  way  in  which  she 
conceals  the  suffering  that  she  endures  from  her  par- 
ents. Noble-hearted  girl !  she  is  calm  and  silent,  but 
she  has  always  been  so.  She  has  grown  thinner,  and 
perhaps  her  cheek  is  a  trifle  paler,  but  her  forehead 
was  burning  and  seemed  to  scorch  my  lips  as  I  kissed 
her.  With  this  exception,  however,  there  was  nothing 
else  about  her  that  would  betray  her  tortures.  Mo- 
deste,  her  maid,  told  me,  moreover,  that  when  night 
came  she  seemed  utterly  worn  out,  and  the  poor  girl, 
with  tears  in  her  eyes,  declared  '  that  her  dear  mistress 
was  killing  herself.' " 

Andre's  eyes  overflowed  with  tears. 

"  What  have  I  done  to  deserve  such  love  ? " 
asked  he. 

A  door  suddenly  opened,  and  Andre  and  the 
Viscountess  turned  hastily  at  the  sound.  It  was  Van 
Klopen  who  came  in,  crying,  according  to  his  usual 
custom, — 

"  Well,  and  whose  turn  is  it  next  ?  " 

When,  however,  he  saw  Gaston,  his  face  grew  white, 
and  it  was  with  a  smile  that  he  stepped  towards  him, 
motioning  back  the  lady  whose  turn  it  was,  and  who 
protested  loudly  against  this  injustice. 

"  Ah,  M.  de  Gandelu,"  said  he,  "  you  have  come,  I 


THE   VANISHING   BILLS  257 

suppose,  to  besj  iak  some  fresh  toilettes  for  that  ex- 
quisite creature,  Zora  de  Chantemille  ?  " 

"  Not  to-day,"  returned  Gaston.  "  Zora  is  a  little 
indisposed." 

Andre,  however,  who  had  arranged  the  narrative 
that  he  was  about  to  pour  into  the  ears  of  the  famous 
Van  Klopen,  was  in  too  much  haste  to  permit  of  any 
unnecessary  delay. 

"  We  have  come  here,"  said  he  hurriedly,  "  upon 
a  matter  of  some  moment.  My  friend,  M.  Gaston 
de  Gandelu,  is  about  to  leave  Paris  for  some  months, 
and,  before  doing  so,  is  anxious  to  settle  all  outstand- 
ing accounts,  and  retire  all  his  bills,  which  may  not 
yet  have  fallen  due." 

"Have  I  any  bills  of  M.  de  Gandelu?"  said  Van 
Klopen  slowly.  "  Ah,  yes,  I  remember  that  I  had 
some  now.  Yes,  five  bills  of  one  thousand  francs  each, 
drawn  by  Gandelu,  and  accepted  by  Martin  Rigal.  I 
received  them  from  the  Mutual  Loan  Society,  but  they 
are  no  longer  in  my  hands." 

"Is  that  the  case?"  murmured  Gaston,  growing 
sick  with  apprehension. 

"  Yes,  I  sent  them  to  my  cloth  merchants  at  St. 
Etienne,  Rollon  and  Company." 

Van  Klopen  was  a  clever  scoundrel,  but  he  some- 
times lacked  the  necessary  perception  of  when  he  had 
said  enough ;  and  this  was  proved  to-day,  for,  agitated 
by  the  steady  gaze  that  Andre  kept  upon  him,  he 
added, — 

"If  you  do  not  believe  my  word,  I  can  show  you 
the  acknowledgment  that  I  received  from  that  firm." 

"  It  is  unnecessary,"  replied  Andre.  "  Your  state- 
ment is  quite  sufficient." 

"  I  should  prefer  to  let  you  see  the  letter." 


258         THE    CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

"  No,  thank  you,"  replied  Andre,  not  for  a  moment 
duped  by  the  game  that  was  being  played.  "  Pray  take 
no  more  trouble.  We  shall,  I  presume,  find  that  the 
bills  are  at  St.  Etienne.  There  is  no  use  in  taking 
any  more  trouble  about  them,  and  we  will  wait  until 
they  arrive  at  maturity.  I  have  the  honor  to  wish 
you  good  morning." 

And  with  these  words  he  dragged  away  Gaston, 
who  was  actually  about  to  consult  Van  Klopen  as  to 
the  most  becoming  costume  for  Zora  to  appear  in  on 
leaving  the  prison  of  St.  Lazare.  When  they  were  a 
few  doors  from  the  man-milliner's,  Andre  stopped  and 
wrote  down  the  names  of  Van  Klopen's  cloth  mer- 
chants.   Gaston  was  now  quite  at  his  ease. 

"  I  think,"  remarked  he,  "  that  Van  Klopen  is  a 
sharp  fellow ;  he  knows  that  I  am  to  be  relied  on." 

'*  Where  do  you  think  your  bills  are  ?  " 

"  At  St.  Etienne's,  of  course." 

The  perfect  innocence  of  the  boy  elicited  from 
Andre  a  gesture  of  impatient  commiseration. 

"  Listen  to  me,"  said  he,  "  and  see  if  you  can  com- 
prehend the  awful  position  in  which  you  have  placed 
yourself." 

"  I  am  listening,  my  dear  fellow ;  pray  go  on." 

"  You  drew  these  bills  through  Verminet  because 
Van  Klopen  would  not  give  you  credit." 

"  Exactly  so." 

"  How,  then,  do  you  account  for  the  fact  that  this 
man,  who  was  at  first  disinclined  to  trust  you,  should, 
without  rhyme  or  reason,  offer  to  supply  you  now  as 
he  did  to-day?" 

"  The  deuce !  that  never  struck  me.  It  does  seem 
queer.  Does  he  want  to  play  me  a  nasty  trick?  But 
which  of  them  is  it — Verminet  or  Van  Klopen  ?  " 


THE   VANISHING   BILLS  259 

"  It  is  plain  to  me  that  the  pair  of  them  have  en- 
tered into  a  pleasant  little  plot  to  blackmail  you." 

Young  Gandelu  did  not  at  all  like  this  turn,  and 
he  exclaimed, — 

"  Blackmail  me,  indeed !  why,  I  know  my  way  about 
better  than  that.  They  won't  get  much  out  of  me,  I 
can  tell  you." 

Andre  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  Then,"  said  he,  "  just  tell  me  what  you  intend  to 
say  to  Verminet  when  he  comes  to  you  upon  the  day 
your  bills  fall  due,  and  says  to  you,  *  Give  me  one 
hundred  thousand  francs  for  these  five  little  bits  of 
paper,  or  I  go  straight  to  your  father  with  them  '  ?  " 

"  I  should  say,  of  course — ah,  well,  I  really  do  not 
know  what  I  should  say." 

"  You  could  say  nothing,  except  that  you  had  been 
imposed  on  in  the  most  infamous  way.  You  would 
plead  for  time,  and  Verminet  would  give  it  to  you  if 
you  would  execute  a  deed  insuring  him  one  hundred 
thousand  francs  on  the  day  you  came  of  age." 

"  A  hundred  thousand  devils  are  all  the  rogue  would 
get  from  me.  That's  the  way  I  do  things,  do  you 
see?  If  people  try  and  ride  roughshod  over  me,  I 
merely  hit  out,  and  then  just  look  out  for  broken 
bones.  Pay  this  chap  ?  Not  I !  I  know  the  governor 
would  make  an  almighty  shine,  but  I'll  choose  that 
sooner  than  be  had  like  that." 

He  was  quite  serious,  but  could  only  put  his  feel- 
ings into  the  language  he  usually  spoke. 

"  I  think,"  answered  Andre,  "  that  your  father 
would  forgive  this  imprudence,  but  that  it  will  be  even 
harder  for  him  to  do  so  than  it  was  to  send  a  doctor 
to  number  the  hours  he  had  to  live.  He  will  forgive 
you  because  he  is  your  father,  and  because  he  loves 


26o         THE    CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

you;  but  Verminet,  when  he  finds  that  the  threat  to 
go  to  your  father  does  not  appall  you,  will  menace  you 
with  criminal  proceedings." 

"  Hulloo !  "  said  Gandelu,  stopping  short.  "  I  say, 
that  is  very  poor  fun,"  gasped  he. 

"  There  is  no  fun  in  it,  for  such  fun,  when  brought 
to  the  notice  of  a  court  of  justice,  goes  by  the  ugly 
name  of  forgery,  and  forgery  means  a  swinging  heavy 
sentence." 

Gaston  turned  pale,  and  trembled  from  head  to  foot. 

"  Tried  and  sentenced,"  faltered  he.  "  No,  I  don't 
believe  you,  but  I  hold  no  honors  and  will  turn  up 
my  cards."  He  quite  forgot  that  he  was  in  the  public 
street,  and  was  talking  at  the  top  of  his  shrill  falsetto 
voice,  and  gesticulating  violently. 

"  The  poor  old  governor,  I  might  have  made  him 
so  happy,  and,  after  all,  I  have  only  been  a  torment 
to  him.  Ah,  could  I  but  begin  once  more;  but  then 
the  cards  are  dealt,  and  I  must  go  on  with  the  game, 
and  I  have  made  a  nice  muddle  of  the  whole  thing 
before  I  am  twenty  years  of  age;  but  no  criminal 
courts  for  me,  no,  the  easiest  way  out  of  it  is  a  pistol 
shot,  for  I  am  an  honest  man's  son,  and  I  will  not 
bring  more  disgrace  on  him  than  I  have  already  done." 

"  Do  you  really  mean  what  you  say?  "  asked  Andre. 

"Of  course  I  do.  I  can  be  firm  enough  some- 
times." 

"  Then  we  will  not  despair  yet,"  answered  the  young 
painter.  "  I  think  that  we  shall  be  able  to  settle  this 
ugly  business,  but  you  cannot  be  too  cautious.  Keep 
indoors,  and  remember  that  I  may  have  urgent  need 
of  you  at  almost  any  time  of  day  or  night." 

"  I  agree,  but  remember  this,  Zora  is  not  to  be  for- 
gotten." 


THE   SPY  261 

"  Don't  fret  over  that ;  I  will  call  and  see  her  to- 
morrow. And  now,  farewell  for  to-day,  as  I  have  not 
an  instant  to  lose,"  and  with  these  words  Andre  hur- 
ried off. 

Andre's  reason  for  haste  was  that  he  had  caught  a 
few  words  addressed  by  Verminet  to  Croisenois — "  I 
shall  see  Mascarin  at  four  o'clock."  And  he  determined 
to  loiter  about  the  Rue  St.  Anne,  and  watch  the  Man- 
aging Director  when  he  came  out,  and  so  find  out  who 
this  Mascarin  was,  who  he  was  certain  was  mixed  up 
in  the  plot.  He  darted  down  the  Rue  de  Grammont 
like  an  arrow  from  a  bow,  and  as  the  clock  in  a  neigh- 
boring belfry  chimed  half-past  three,  he  was  in  the 
Rue  St.  Anne.  There  was  a  small  wine-shop  almost 
opposite  to  the  office  of  the  Mutual  Loan  Society,  and 
there  Andre  ensconced  himself  and  made  a  frugal 
meal,  while  he  was  waiting  for  Verminet's  appear- 
ance, and  just  as  he  had  finished  his  light  refreshment 
he  saw  the  man  he  wanted  come  out  of  the  office,  and 
crept  cautiously  after  him  like  a  Red  Indian  on  the 
trail  of  his  enemy. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

THE     SPY. 

As  Verminet  swaggered  down  the  street  he  had  the 
air  of  a  successful  man,  of  a  capitalist,  in  short,  and 
the  Managing  Director  of  a  highly  lucrative  concern. 
Andre  had  no  difficulty  in  following  his  man,  though 
detective's  business  was  quite  new  to  him,  which  is 
no  such  easy  matter,  although  every  one  thinks  that 
he  can  become  one.    Andre  kept  his  man  in  sight,  and 


262         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

was  astonished  at  the  numerous  acquaintances  that 
Verminet  seemed  to  have.  Occasionally  he  said  to 
himself,  "  Perhaps  I  am  mistaken  after  all,  for  fancy 
is  a  bad  pair  of  spectacles  to  see  through.  This  man 
may  be  honest,  and  I  have  let  my  imagination  lead  me 
astray." 

Meanwhile,  Verminet  who  had  reached  the  Boule- 
vard Poissonniere,  assumed  a  totally  different  air, 
throwing  off  his  old  manner  as  he  cast  away  his  cigar. 
When  he  had  reached  the  Rue  Montorgueil  he  turned 
underneath  a  large  archway.  Verminet  had  gone  into 
the  office  of  M.  B.  Mascarin,  and  that  person  simply 
kept  a  Servants'  Registry  Office  for  domestics  of  both 
sexes.  In  spite  of  his  surprise,  however,  he  deter- 
mined to  wait  for  Verminet  to  come  out ;  and,  not  to 
give  himself  the  air  of  loitering  about  the  place,  he 
crossed  the  road  and  appeared  to  be  interested  in 
watching  three  workmen  who  were  engaged  in  fixing 
the  revolving  shutters  to  a  new  shop  window.  Luckily 
for  the  young  painter  he  had  not  to  wait  a  very  long 
while,  for  in  less  than  a  quarter  of  an  hour  Verminet 
came  out,  accompanied  by  two  men.  The  one  was 
tall  and  thin,  and  v/ore  a  pair  of  spectacles  with  col- 
ored glasses,  while  the  other  was  stout  and  ruddy, 
with  the  unmistakable  air  of  a  man  of  the  world  about 
him.  Andre  would  have  given  the  twenty  thousand 
francs  which  he  still  had  in  his  pocket  if  he  could  have 
heard  a  single  word  of  their  conversation.  He  was 
moving  skilfully  forward  so  as  to  place  himself  within 
earshot,  when  not  two  feet  from  him  he  heard  a  shrill 
whistle  twice  repeated.  There  was  something  so 
strange  and  curious  in  the  sound  of  this  whistle  that 
Andre  looked  round  and  noticed  that  the  three  men 
whom  he  was  watching  had  been  also  attracted  by  it. 


THE   SPY  263 

The  tall  man  with  the  colored  glasses  glanced  sus- 
piciously around  him,  and  then  after  a  nod  to  his  com- 
panions turned  and  re-entered  the  office,  while  Ver- 
minet  and  the  other  walked  away  arm  in  arm.  Andre 
was  undecided;  should  he  try  and  discover  who  these 
two  men  were?  Near  the  entrance  he  saw  a  lad  sell- 
ing hot  chestnuts.  "  Ah !  "  said  he,  "  the  little  chestnut 
seller  will  always  be  there ;  but  I  may  lose  the  others 
if  I  stay  here."  He  followed  the  two  men  as  quickly 
as  possible.  They  did  not  go  very  far,  and  speedily 
entered  a  fine  house  in  the  Rue  Montmartre.  Here 
Andre  was  for  a  moment  puzzled,  as  he  did  not  know 
to  whom  they  were  paying  a  visit,  but  noticing  an  in- 
scription on  the  wall  of  "  Cashier's  Office  on  the  first 
floor,"  he  exclaimed, — 

"  Ah !  it  is  to  the  banker's  they  have  gone !  " 

He  questioned  a  man  coming  downstairs  and  heard 
that  M.  Martin  Rigal,  the  banker,  had  his  offices  and 
residence  there. 

"  I  have  struck  a  vein  of  good  luck  to-day,"  thought 
he ;  "  and  now  if  my  little  friend  the  chestnut  seller 
can  only  tell  me  the  names  of  these  men,  I  have  done 
a  good  day's  work.    I  do  hope  that  he  has  not  gone." 

The  boy  wag  still  there,  and  he  had  two  customers 
standing  by  the  chafing-dish  which  contained  the  glow- 
ing charcoal,  and  a  working  lad  in  cap  and  blouse  was 
arguing  so  hotly  with  the  lad  that  they  did  not  notice 
Andre's  appearance. 

"  You  can  stow  that  chat,"  said  the  boy ;  "  I  have 
told  your  father  the  price  I  would  take.  Y()u  want 
my  station  and  stock-in-trade.  Hand  over  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  francs,  and  they  are  yours." 

"  But  my  dad  will  only  give  two  hundred,"  returned 
the  other. 


264         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

"  Then  he  don't  need  give  nothing,  for  he  won't  get 
'em,"  answered  the  chestnut  vender  sharply.  "  Two 
hundred  francs  for  a  pitch  Hke  this !  why,  I  have 
sometimes  taken  ten  francs  and  more,  and  that  ain't  a 
lie,  on  the  word  of  Toto  Chupin." 

Andre  was  tickled  with  this  strange  designation, 
and  addressed  himself  to  the  lad  who  bore  it. 

"  My  good  boy,"  said  he,  "  I  think  you  were  here 
an  hour  ago.  Did  you  see  anything  of  three  gentlemen 
who  came  out  of  the  house  and  stood  talking  together 
for  a  short  time?" 

The  lad  turned  sharply  round  and  examined  his 
questioner  from  tip  to  toe  with  an  air  of  the  most  su- 
preme impertinence ;  and  then,  in  a  tone  which 
matched  his  look,  replied, — 

"  What  does  it  signify  to  you  who  they  are?  Mind 
your  own  business,  and  be  off !  " 

Andre  had  had  some  little  experience  of  this  de- 
lightful class  of  street  arab,  of  which  Toto  Chupin 
was  so  favorable  a  specimen,  and  knew  their  habits, 
customs,  and  language. 

"  Come,  my  chicken,"  said  he,  "  spit  it  out,  it  won't 
blister  your  tongue,  to  answer  a  man  who  asks  a  civil 
question." 

"  Well,  then,  I  saw  'em,  sharp  enough,  and  what 
then?" 

"Why,  that  I  should  like  to  have  their  names  if 
they  have  such  an  article  belonging  to  'em !  " 

Toto  raised  his  cap  and  scratched  his  head,  as  if  to 
stimulate  his  brains,  and  as  he  brushed  up  his  thick 
head  of  dirty  yellow  hair,  he  eyed  Andre  cunningly. 

"And  suppose  I  know  the  blokes'  names  and  tells 
*em  out  to  you,  what  will  you  stand  ?  "  asked  he. 


THE   SPY  26s 

**  Ten  sous." 

The  delightful  youth  puffed  out  his  cheeks,  then 
expelled  the  pent-up  wind  by  a  sudden  slap,  as  a  mark 
of  his  disgust  at  the  meanness  of  the  offer. 

"  Pull  up  your  braces,  my  lord,"  said  he  sarcas- 
tically, "  or  you'll  be  losing  the  contents  of  your 
breeches  pockets.  Ten  sous,  indeed!  Perhaps  you'd 
like  me  to  lend  'em  to  yer  ?  " 

Andre  smiled  pleasantly. 

"  Did  you  think,  my  little  man,  that  I  was  going  to 
offer  you  twenty  thousand  shiners  ?  "  asked  he. 

"  Won  again ! "  cried  Toto ;  "  I  laid  myself  a  new 
hat  that  you  weren't  a  fool,  and  I  have  collared  the 
stakes." 

"  Why  do  you  think  I  am  not  a  fool  ?  " 

"  Because  a  fool  would  have  begun  by  offering  me 
five  francs  and  gone  up  slick  to  ten,  while  you  began 
at  a  modest  figure." 

The  painter  smiled. 

"  But  you  were  too  old  a  bird  to  be  caught  like  that," 
continued  the  lad;  and  as  he  spoke,  he  stopped,  and 
contracted  his  brow  as  if  in  deep  perplexity.  Of 
course  he  was  acquainted  with  the  names,  but  ought 
he  to  give  them?  Instantly  he  scented  an  enemy. 
Harmless  people  did  not  usually  ask  questions  of  itin- 
erant chestnut  venders,  and  to  open  his  mouth  might 
be  to  injure  Mascarin,  Beaumarchef,  or  the  guileless 
Tantaine. 

This  last  thought  determined  the  lad. 

"  Keep  your  ten  sous,  my  pippin,"  said  the  boy ; 
"  I'll  tell  you  what  you  want  to  know  all  gratis  and 
for  nothing,  because  I've  taken  a  real  fancy  to  the  cut 
of  your  mug.    The  tall  chap  was  Mascarin,  the  fat  un 


266         THE    CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

Doctor  Hortebise,  and  t'other — stop,  let  me  think  it 
out  in  my  knowledge  box ;  ah !  I  have  it,  he  was  Ver- 
minet." 

Andre  was  so  delighted  that,  drawing  from  his 
pocket  a  five-franc  piece,  he  tossed  it  to  the  boy. 

"  Thanks,  my  noble  lord,"  said  Chupin,  and  was 
about  to  add  something  more  in  a  similar  vein,  when 
he  glanced  down  the  street.  His  look  changed  in  an 
instant,  and  he  fixed  his  eyes  upon  the  painter's  face 
with  a  very  strange  expression. 

"  What  is  the  matter,  my  lad  ?  "  asked  Andre,  sur- 
prised at  this  sudden  change. 

"  Nothing,"  answered  Chupin ;  "  nothing  at  all ;  only 
as  you  seem  a  decentish  sort  of  chap,  I  should  recom- 
mend you  to  keep  your  wits  about  you,  and  to  look 
out  for  squalls." 

"  Eh,  what  do  you  mean?  " 

"  I  mean — why — ^be  careful,  of  course.  Hang  me 
if  I  exactly  know  what  I  do  mean.  It  is  just  an  idea 
that  came  to  me  all  of  a  jump.  But  there,  be  off ;  I 
ain't  going  to  say  another  word." 

With  much  difficulty  Andre  repressed  his  astonish- 
ment. He  saw  that  this  young  scamp  was  the  posses- 
sor of  many  secrets  which  might  be  of  inestimable 
value  to  him ;  but  he  also  saw  that  he  was  determined 
to  hold  his  tongue,  and  that  it  would  at  present  be  a 
waste  of  time  to  try  and  get  anything  out  of  him; 
and  an  empty  cab  passing  at  this  moment,  Andre 
hailed  it,  and  told  the  coachman  to  drive  fast  to  the 
Champs  Elysees.  In  obedience  to  the  warning  that 
he  had  just  received  from  Toto,  he  did  not  give  the 
name  of  the  cafe  where  he  was  to  meet  De  Breulh,  for 
he  made  up  his  mind  to  be  careful,  yes,  extremely 
careful.     He  recollected  the  two  odd  whistles  which 


THE   SPY  267 

had  seemed  to  make  Mascarin  wince,  and  which  cer- 
tainly broke  oflf  the  conference  of  the  three  men,  and 
he  remembered  that  it  was  after  a  glance  down  the 
street  that  Toto  had  become  less  communicative  and 
had  given  him  that  curt  warning.  "  By  heaven,"  said 
he,  as  the  recollection  of  a  story  he  had  read  not  long 
ago  dawned  on  him,  "  I  am  being  followed."  He 
lowered  the  front  glass  of  the  cab,  and  attracted  the 
coachman's  attention  by  pulling  him  by  the  sleeve. 

"  Listen  to  me,"  said  he,  as  the  man  turned,  "  and 
do  not  slacken  your  speed.  Here,  take  your  five 
francs  in  advance." 

"  But  look  here " 

"  Listen  to  me.  Go  as  sharp  as  you  can  to  the  Rue 
de  Matignon ;  turn  down  it,  and,  as  you  do  so,  go  a 
bit  slower;  then  drive  on  like  lightning,  and  when 
you  are  in  the  Champs  Elysees  do  what  you  like,  for 
your  cab  will  be  empty." 

The  driver  chuckled. 

"  Aha,"  said  he ;  "I  see  you  are  being  followed,  and 
you  want  to  give  'em  leg  bail." 

"  Yes,  yes ;  you  are  right." 

"Then  listen  to  me.  Take  care  when  you  jump, 
and  don't  do  it  on  the  pavement,  for  t'other  is  the 
safest." 

Andre  succeeded  in  alighting  safely,  and  turned 
down  a  narrow  court  before  his  pursuer  had  entered 
the  street;  but  it  was  vain  for  the  young  painter  to 
lurk  in  a  doorway,  for  after  five  minutes  had  elapsed 
there  was  nothing  to  be  seen,  and  no  spy  had  made  his 
appearance. 

"  I  have  been  over-cautious,"  muttered  he. 

More  than  a  quarter  of  an  hour  had  elapsed,  and 
Andre  felt  that  he  might  leave  his  hiding-place,  and 


268         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

go  in  quest  of  De  Breulh;  and  as  he  approached  the 
spot  chosen  for  their  meeting-place,  he  saw  his  friend's 
carriage,  and  near  it  was  the  owner,  smoking  a  cigar. 
The  two  men  caught  sight  of  each  other  almost  at  the 
same  moment.  De  Breulh  advanced  to  greet  the 
young  man  with  extended  hand. 

"  I  have  been  waiting  for  you  for  the  last  twenty 
minutes,"  said  he. 

Andre  commenced  to  apologize,  but  his  friend 
checked  him. 

"  Never  mind,"  returned  he ;  "  I  know  that  you  must 
have  had  some  excellent  reasons ;  but,  to  tell  you  the 
honest  truth,.  I  had  become  rather  nervous  about  you." 

"  Nervous !  and  why,  pray  ?  " 

"  Do  you  not  recollect  what  I  said  the  other  even- 
ing?   De  Croisenois  is  a  double-dyed  scoundrel." 

Andre  remained  silent,  and  his  friend,  putting  his 
arm  affectionately  through  his,  continued, — 

"  Let  us  walk,"  said  he ;  "  it  is  better  than  sitting 
down  in  the  cafe.  I  believe  De  Croisenois  capable  of 
anything.  He  has  the  prospect  before  him  of  a  large 
fortune, — that  of  his  brother  George;  but  this  he  has 
already  anticipated.  A  man  in  a  position  like  this  is 
not  to  be  trifled  with." 

"  I  do  not  fear  him." 

"  But  I  do.  I  am,  however,  a  little  relieved  by  the 
fact  that  he  has  never  seen  you." 

The  painter  shook  his  head. 

"  Not  only  has  he  seen  me,  but  I  half  believe  that 
he  suspects  my  designs." 

"  Impossible ! " 

"  But  I  am  sure  that  I  have  been  followed  to-day. 
I  have  no  actual  proof,  but  still  I  am  fully  convinced 
that  it  was  so." 


THE   SPY  269 

And  Andre  recounted  all  that  had  occurred  during 
the  day. 

"  You  are  certainly  being  watched,"  answered  De 
Breulh,  "  and  every  step  that  you  take  will  be  known 
to  your  enemies,  and  at  this  very  moment  perhaps  eyes 
are  upon  us." 

As  he  spoke  he  glanced  uneasily  around ;  but  it  was 
quite  dark,  and  he  could  see  no  one. 

"  We  will  give  the  spies  a  little  gentle  exercise," 
said  he,  "  and  if  we  dine  together  they  will  find  it 
hard  to  discover  the  place." 

De  Breulh's  coachman  was  dozing  on  the  driving- 
seat.  His  master  aroused  him,  and  whispered  some 
order  in  his  ear.  The  two  young  men  then  got  in, 
and  the  carriage  started  at  a  quick  pace. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  this  expedient  ?  "  asked  De 
Breulh.  "  We  shall  go  at  this  pace  for  the  next  hour. 
We  will  then  alight  at  the  corner  of  the  Chaussee 
d'Autin,  and  be  free  for  the  rest  of  the  night,  and 
those  who  wish  to  follow  us  to-night  must  have  good 
eyes  and  legs." 

All  came  to  pass  as  De  Breulh  had  arranged ;  but 
as  he  jumped  out  he  saw  a  dark  form  slip  from  be- 
hind the  carriage  and  mingle  with  the  crowd  on  the 
Boulevard. 

"  By  heavens,"  said  he ;  "  that  was  a  man.  I 
thought  that  I  was  throwing  a  spy  off  the  track,  and  I 
was  in  reality  only  treating  him  to  a  drive." 

To  make  sure,  he  took  off  his  glove  and  felt  the 
springs  of  the  carriage. 

"  See,"  said  he,  "  they  are  still  warm  from  the  con- 
tact with  a  human  body." 

The  young  painter  was  silent,  but  all  was  now  ex- 
plained :  while  he  jumped  from  the  cab,  his  tracker  had 


270         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

been  carried  away  upon  it.  This  discovery  saddened 
the  dinner,  and  a  little  after  ten  Andre  left  his  friend 
and  returned  home. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 


MASCARIN     MOVES. 


The  Viscountess  de  Bois  Arden  had  not  been  wrong 
when  she  told  Andre  in  Van  Klopen's  establishment 
that  community  of  sorrow  had  brought  the  Count  and 
Countess  of  Mussidan  nearer  together,  and  that  Sabine 
had  made  up  her  mind  to  sacrifice  herself  for  the 
honor  of  the  family.  Unfortunately,  however,  this 
change  in  the  relations  of  husband  and  wife  had  not 
taken  place  immediately ;  for  after  her  interview  with 
Doctor  Hortebise,  Diana's  first  impulse  had  not  been 
to  go  to  her  husband,  but  to  write  to  Norbert,  who 
was  as  much  compromised  by  the  correspondence  as 
she  herself.  Her  first  letter  did  not  elicit  a  reply.  She 
wrote  a  second,  and  then  a  third,  in  which,  though  she 
did  not  go  into  details,  she  let.the  Duke  know  that  she 
was  the  victim  of  a  dark  intrigue,  and  that  a  deadly 
peril  was  hanging  over  her  daughter's  head.  This  last 
letter  was  brought  back  to  her  by  the  messenger,  with- 
out any  envelope,  and  across  it  Norbert  had  written, — 

"  The  weapon  which  you  have  used  against  me  has 
now  been  turned  against  yourself.    Heaven  is  just." 

These  words  started  up  in  letters  of  fire  before  her 
eyes  as  the  presage  of  coming  misfortune,  and  telling 
her  that  the  hour  of  retribution  had  now  come,  and 
that  she  must  be  prepared  to  suffer,  as  an  atonement 


MASCARIN    MOVES  271 

for  her  crimes.  Then  it  was  that  she  felt  all  was  lost, 
and  that  she  must  go  to  her  husband  for  aid,  unless  she 
desired  that  copies  of  the  stolen  letters  should  be  sent 
to  him ;  and  in  a  little  boudoir,  adjoining  Sabine's  own 
room,  she  opened  her  heart  and  told  her  husband  all. 
She  performed  it  with  all  the  skill  of  a  woman  who, 
without  descending  to  falsehood,  contrives  to  conceal 
the  truth.  But  she  could  not  hide  the  share  that  she 
had  taken,  both  in  the  death  of  the  late  Duke  of 
Champdoce  and  the  disappearance  of  George  de 
Croisenois. 

The  Coant's  brain  reeled.  He  called  up  to  his  mem- 
ory what  Diana  had  been  when  he  first  saw  and  loved 
her  at  Laurebourg :  how  pure  and  modest  she  looked ! 
what  virginal  candor  sat  upon  her  brow!  and  yet  she 
was  even  then  doing  her  best  to  urge  on  a  son  to  mur- 
der his  father. 

De  Mussidan  had  had  hideous  doubts  concerning  the 
relations  of  Norbert  and  Diana,  both  before  and  after 
marriage ;  but  his  wife  firmly  denied  this  at  the  moment 
when  she  was  revealing  the  other  guilty  secrets  of  her 
past  life.  He  had  believed  that  Sabine  was  not  his 
child,  and  now  he  had  to  reproach  himself  with  the  in- 
difference he  had  displayed  towards  her. 

He  made  no  answer  to  the  terrible  revelation  that 
was  poured  into  his  ears;  but  when  the  Countess  had 
concluded,  he  rose  and  left  the  room,  stretching  out  his 
hands  and  grasping  the  walls  for  support,  like  a 
drunken  man. 

The  Count  and  Countess  believed  that  Sabine  had 
slept  through  this  interview,  but  they  were  mistaken, 
for  Sabine  had  heard  all  those  fatal  words — "  ruin,  dis- 
honor, and  despair !  "  At  first  she  scarcely  understood. 
Were  not  these  words  merely  the  offspring  of  her  de- 


272         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

lirium?  She  strove  to  shake  it  off,  but  too  soon  she 
knew  that  the  whispered  words  were  sad  realities,  and 
she  lay  on  her  bed  quivering  with  terror.  Much  of  the 
conversation  escaped  her,  but  she  heard  enough.  Her 
mother's  past  sins  were  to  be  exposed  if  the  daughter 
did  not  marry  a  man  entirely  unknown  to  her — the 
Marquis  de  Croisenois.  She  knew  that  her  torments 
would  not  be  of  very  long  duration,  for  to  part  with 
her  love  for  Andre  would  be  to  part  with  life  itself. 
She  made  up  her  mind  to  live  until  she  had  saved  her 
parents'  honor  by  the  sacrifice  of  herself,  and  then  she 
would  be  free  to  accept  the  calm  repose  of  the  grave. 

But  the  terrible  revelation  bore  its  fruits,  for  her 
fever  came  back,  and  a  relapse  was  the  result.  But 
youth  and  a  sound  constitution  gained  the  day,  and 
when  she  was  convalescent  her  will  was  as  strong  as 
ever. 

Her  first  act  was  to  write  the  letter  to  her  lover 
which  had  driven  him  to  the  verge  of  distraction ;  and 
then,  fearing  lest  her  father  might,  in  his  agony  and 
remorse,  be  driven  to  some  rash  act,  she  went  to  him 
and  told  him  that  she  knew  all. 

"  I  never  loved  M.  de  Breulh,"  said  she  with  a  piti- 
ful smile,  "  and  therefore  the  sacrifice  is  not  so  great 
after  all." 

The  Count  was  not  for  a  moment  the  dupe  of  the 
generous-souled  girl,  but  he  did  not  dare  to  brave  the 
scandal  of  the  death  of  Montlouis,  and  still  less  the  ex- 
posure of  his  wife's  conduct.  Time  was  passing,  how- 
ever, and  the  miscreants  in  whose  power  they  were 
made  no  signs  of  life.  Hortebise  did  not  appear  any 
more,  and  there  were  moments  when  the  miserable  Di- 
ana actually  ventured  to  hope.  "  Have  they  forgotten 
us  ?  "  thought  she. 


MASCARIN    MOVES  273 

Alas !  no ;  they  were  people  who  never  forget. 

The  Champdoce  affair  had  been  satisfactorily  ar- 
ranged, and  every  precaution  had  been  taken  to  pre- 
vent the  detection  of  Paul  as  an  impostor,  and  engaged 
as  he  had  been,  Mascarin  had  no  time  to  turn  his  at- 
tention to  the  marriage  of  Sabine  and  De  Croisenois. 
The  famous  Limited  Company,  with  the  Marquis  as 
chairman,  had,  too,  to  be  started,  the  shares  of  which 
were  to  be  taken  up  by  the  unhappy  victims  of  the 
blackmailers ;  but  first  some  decided  steps  must  be 
taken  with  the  Mussidans,  and  Tantaine  was  dis- 
patched on  this  errand. 

This  amiable  individual,  though  he  was  going  into 
such  very  excellent  society,  did  not  consider  it  neces- 
sary to  make  any  improvement  in  his  attire.  This  was 
the  reason  why  the  footman,  upon  seeing  such  a  shabby 
visitor  and  hearing  him  ask  for  the  Count  or  Countess, 
did  not  hesitate  to  reply,  with  a  sneer,  that  his  master 
and  mistress  had  been  out  some  months,  and  were  not 
likely  to  return  for  a  week  or  two.  This  fact  did  not 
disconcert  the  wily  man,  for  drawing  one  of  Mas- 
carin's  cards  from  his  pocket,  he  begged  the  kind  gen- 
tleman to  take  it  upstairs,  when  he  was  sure  that  he 
would  at  once  be  sent  for. 

De  Mussidan,  when  he  read  the  name  on  the  card, 
turned  ghastly  pale. 

"  Show  him  into  the  library,"  said  he  curtly. 

Florestan  left  the  room,  and  the  Count  mutely 
handed  the  card  to  his  wife,  but  she  had  no  need  to 
read  it. 

"  I  can  tell  what  it  is,"  gasped  she. 

"  The  day  for  settling  accounts  has  come,"  said  the 
Count,  "  and  this  name  is  the  fatal  sign." 

The  Countess  flung  herself  upon  her  knees,  and  tak- 


274         THE    CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

ing  the  hand  that  hung  placidly  by  his  side,  pressed  her 
lips  tenderly  to  it. 

"  Forgive  me,  Octave !  "  she  murmured.  "  Will  you 
not  forgive  me?  I  am  a  miserable  wretch,  and  why 
did  not  Heaven  punish  me  for  the  sins  that  I  have  com- 
mitted, and  not  make  others  expiate  my  offences  ?  " 

The  Count  put  her  gently  aside.  He  suffered  in- 
tensely, and  yet  no  word  of  reproach  escaped  his  lips 
against  the  woman  who  had  ruined  his  whole  life. 

"  And  Sabine,"  she  went  on,  "  must  she,  a  De  Mussi- 
dan,  marry  one  of  these  wretched  scoundrels  ?  " 

Sabine  was  the  only  one  in  the  room  who  preserved 
her  calmness ;  she  had  so  schooled  herself  that  her  dis- 
tress of  mind  was  not  apparent  to  the  outward  eye. 

"  Do  not  make  yourselves  miserable,"  said  she,  with 
a  faint  smile ;  "  how  do  we  know  that  M.  de  Croisenois 
may  not  make  me  an  excellent  husband  after  all  ?  " 

The  Count  gazed  upon  his  daughter  with  a  look  of 
the  fondest  affection  and  gratitude, 

"  Dearest  Sabine !  "  murmured  he.  Her  fortitude 
had  restored  his  self-command,  "  Let  us  be  outwardly 
resigned,"  said  he,  "  whatever  our  feelings  may  be. 
Time  may  do  much  for  us,  and  at  the  very  church  door 
we  may  find  means  of  escape." 


A   CRUEL   SLUR  275 

CHAPTER   XXVII. 

A   CRUEL  SLUR. 

Florestan  had  conducted  Tantaine  to  the  sumptu- 
ous library,  in  which  the  Count  had  recei'"^ed  Masca- 
rin's  visit;  and,  to  pass  away  the  time,  the  old  man 
took  a  mental  inventory  of  the  contents  of  the  room. 
He  tried  the  texture  of  the  curtains,  looked  at  the 
handsome  bindings  of  the  books,  and  admired  the  mag- 
nificent bronzes  on  the  mantelpiece. 

"  Aha,"  muttered  he,  as  he  tried  the  springs  of  a 
luxurious  armchair,  "  everything  is  of  the  best,  and 
when  matters  are  settled,  I  half  think  that  I  should 
like  a  resting-place  just  like  this " 

He  checked  himself,  for  the  door  opened,  and  the 
Count  made  his  appearance,  calm  and  dignified,  but 
very  pale.  Tantaine  made  a  low  bow,  pressing  his 
greasy  hat  against  his  breast. 

"  Your  humble  servant  to  command,"  said  he. 

The  Count  had  come  to  a  sudden  halt. 

"  Excuse  me,"  said  he,  "  but  did  you  send  up  a  card 
asking  for  an  interview  ?  " 

"  I  am  not  Mascarin  certainly,  but  I  used  that  highly 
respectable  gentleman's  name,  because  I  knew  that  my 
own  was  totally  unknown  to  you.  I  am  Tantaine, 
Adrien  Tantaine." 

M.  de  Mussidan  gazed  with  extreme  surprise  upon 
the  squalid  individual  before  him.  His  mild  and  benev- 
olent face  inspired  confidence,  and  yet  he  doubted  him. 

"  I  have  come  on  the  same  business,"  pursued  the 
old  man.  "  I  have  been  ordered  to  tell  you  that  it 
must  be  hurried  on." 


276         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

The  Count  hastily  closed  the  door  and  locked  it ;  the 
manner  of  this  man  made  him  feel  even  too  plainly 
the  ignominy  of  his  position, 

"  I  understand,"  answered  he.  "  But  how  is  it  that 
you  have  come,  and  not  the  other  one  ?  " 

"  He  intended  to  come,  but  at  the  last  moment  he 
drew  back ;  Mascarin,  you  see,  has  a  great  deal  to  lose, 

while  I "    He  paused,  and  holding  up  the  tattered 

tails  of  his  coat,  turned  round,  as  though  to  exhibit  his 
shabby  attir6.  "  All  my  property  is  on  my  back,"  con- 
tinued he. 

"  Then  I  can  treat  with  you  ?  "  asked  the  Count. 

Tantaine  nodded  his  head.  "  Yes,  Count,  I  have  the 
missing  leaves  from  the  Baron's  journal,  and  also,  well 
— I  suppose  you  know  everything,  all  of  your  wife's 
correspondence." 

"  Enough,"  answered  the  Count,  unable  to  hide  his 
disgust.    "  Sit  down." 

"  Now,  Count,  I  will  go  to  the  point — are  you  going 
to  put  the  police  on  us  ?  " 

"  I  have  said  that  I  would  do  nothing  of  the  kind." 

"  Then  we  can  get  to  business." 

"  Yes,  if ". 

The  old  man  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  There  is  no  'if  in  the  case,"  returned  he.  "  We 
state  our  conditions,  for  acceptance  or  rejection." 

These  words  were  uttered  in  a  tone  of  such  extreme 
insolence  that  the  Count  was  strongly  tempted  to  hurl 
the  extortionate  scoundrel  from  the  window,  but  he 
contrived  to  restrain  his  passion. 

"  Let  us  hear  the  conditions  then,"  said  he  impa- 
tiently. 

Tantaine  extracted  from  some  hidden  recess  of  his 


A   CRUEL   SLUR  277 

coat  a  much-worn  pocketbook,  and  drew  from  it  a 
paper. 

"  Here  are  our  conditions,"  returned  he  slowly. 
"  The  Count  de  Mussidan  promises  to  give  the  hand 
of  his  daughter  to  Henri  Marquis  de  Croisenois.  He 
will  give  his  daughter  a  wedding  portion  of  six  hun- 
dred thousand  francs,  and  promises  that  the  marriage 
shall  take  place  without  delay.  The  Marquis  de  Croise- 
nois will  be  formally  introduced  at  your  house,  and  he 
must  be  cordially  received.  Four  days  afterwards  he 
must  be  asked  to  dinner.  On  the  fifteenth  day  from 
that  M.  de  Mussidan  will  give  a  grand  ball  in  honor 
of  the  signing  of  the  marriage  contract.  The  leaves 
from  the  diary  and  the  whole  of  the  correspondence 
will  be  handed  to  M.  de  Mussidan  as  soon  as  the  civil 
ceremony  is  completed." 

With  firmly  compressed  lips  and  clenched  hands, 
the  Count  sat  listening  to  these  conditions. 

"  And  who  can  tell  me,"  said  he,  "  that  you  will 
keep  your  engagements,  and  that  these  papers  will  be 
restored  to  me  at  all  ?  " 

Tantaine  looked  at  him  with  an  air  of  pity. 

"  Your  own  good  sense,"  answered  he.  "  What 
more  could  we  expect  to  get  out  of  you  than  your 
daughter  and  your  money  ?  " 

The  Count  did  not  answer,  but  paced  up  and  down 
the  room,  eyeing  the  ambassador  keenly,  and  endeavor- 
ing to  detect  some  weak  point  in  his  manner  of  cyni- 
cism and  audacity.  Then  speaking  in  the  calm  tone 
of  a  man  who  had  made  up  his  mind,  he  said, — 

"  You  hold  me  as  in  a  vice,  and  I  admit  myself  van- 
quished. Stringent  as  your  conditions  are,  I  accept 
them." 


278         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

"  That  is  the  right  style  of  way  to  talk  in,"  remarked 
Tantaine  cheerfully. 

"  Then,"  continued  the  Count,  with  a  ray  of  hope 
gleaming  in  his  face,  "  why  should  I  give  my  daugh- 
ter to  De  Croisenois  at  all? — surely  this  is  utterly  un- 
necessary. What  you  want  is  simply  six  hundred  thou- 
sand francs;  well,  you  can  have  them,  and  leave  me 
Sabine." 

He  paused  and  waited  for  the  reply,  believing  that 
the  day  was  his;  but  he  was  wrong. 

"  That  would  not  be  the  same  thing  at  all,"  an- 
swered Tantaine.  "  We  should  not  gain  our  ends  by 
such  means." 

"  I  can  do  more,"  said  the  Count.  "  Give  me  six 
months,  and  I  will  add  a  million  to  the  sum  I  have 
already  offered." 

Tantaine  did  not  appear  impressed  by  the  magnitude 
of  this  offer.  "  I  think,"  remarked  he,  "  that  it  will 
be  better  to  close  this  interview,  which,  I  confess,  is 
becoming  a  little  annoying.  You  agreed  to  accept  the 
conditions.     Are  you  still  in  that  mind  ?  " 

The  Count  bowed.  He  could  not  trust  himself  to 
speak. 

"  Then,"  went  on  Tantaine,  "  I  will  take  my  leave. 
Remember,  that  as  you  fulfil  your  engagement,  so  we 
will  keep  to  ours." 

He  had  laid  his  hand  on  the  handle  of  the  door, 
when  the  Count  said, — 

"  Another  word,  if  you  please.  I  can  answer  for  my- 
self and  Madame  de  Mussidan,  but  how  about  my 
daughter  ?  " 

Tantaine's  face  changed.  "  What  do  you  mean  ? " 
asked  he. 


A   CRUEL   SLUR  279 

"  My  daughter  may  refuse  to  accept  M.  de  Croise- 
nois." 

"  Why  should  she  ?  He  is  good-looking,  pleasant, 
and  agreeable." 

"  Still  she  may  refuse  him." 

"  If  mademoiselle  makes  any  objection,"  said  the  old 
man  in  peremptory  accents,  "  you  must  let  me  see  her 
for  a  few  minutes,  and  after  that  you  will  have  no 
further  difficulty  with  her." 

"  Why,  what  could  you  have  to  say  to  my  daugh- 
ter?" 

"  I  should  say " 

"  Well,  what  would  you  say  ?  " 

"  I  should  say  that  if  she  loves  any  one,  it  is  not 
M.  de  Breulh."  He  endeavored  to  pass  through  the 
half-opened  door,  but  the  Count  closed  it  violently. 

"  You  shall  not  leave  this  room,"  cried  he,  "  until 
yju  have  explained  this  insulting  remark." 

"  I  had  no  intention  of  offending  you,"  answered 

Tantaine  humbly.     "  I   only "     He  paused,   and 

then,  with  an  air  of  sarcasm  which  sat  strangely  upon 
a  person  of  his  appearance,  went  on,  "  I  am  aware  that 
the  heiress  of  a  noble  family  may  do  many  things  with- 
out having  her  reputation  compromised,  when  girls  in 
a  lower  social  grade  would  be  forever  lost  by  the 
commission  of  any  one  of  them ;  and  I  am  sure  if  the 
family  of  M.  de  Breulh  knew  that  the  young  lady  to 
whom  he  was  engaged  had  been  in  the  habit  of  pass- 
ing her  afternoons  alone  with  a  young  man  in  his 
studio " 

He  paused,  and  hastily  drew  a  revolver,  for  it 
seemed  as  if  the  Count  were  about  to  throw  himself 
upon  him.     "  Softly,  softly,  if  you  please,"  cried  he. 


28o         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

"  Blows  and  insults  are  fatal  mistakes.  I  have  better 
information  than  yourself,  that  is  all.  I  have  more 
than  ten  times  seen  your  daughter  enter  a  house  in 
the  Rue  Tour  d'Auvergne,  and,  asking  for  M.  Andre, 
creep  silently  up  the  staircase." 

The  Count  felt  that  he  was  choking.  He  tore  off  his 
cravat,  and  cried  wildly,  "  Proofs !  give  me  proofs !  " 

During  the  last  five  minutes  Tantaine  had  shifted  his 
ground  so  skilfully  that  the  heavy  library  table  now 
stood  between  himself  and  the  Count,  and  he  was  com-  • 
paratively  safe  behind  this  extemporized  defence. 

"  Proofs  ?  "  answered  he.  "  Do  you  think  that  I 
carry  them  about  with  me?  In  a  week  I  could  give 
you  the  lovers'  correspondence.  That,  you  will  say,  is 
too  long  to  wait ;  but  you  can  set  your  doubts  at  rest  at 
once.  If  you  go  to  the  address  I  will  give  you  before 
eight  to-morrow  morning,  and  enter  the  room  occupied 
by  M.  Andre,  you  will  find  the  portrait  of  Mademoi- 
selle Sabine  carefully  concealed  from  view  behind 
a  green  curtain,  and  a  very  good  portrait  it  is. 
I  presume  you  will  admit  that  it  could  not  have  been 
executed  without  a  sitting.'' 

"  Leave  this,"  cried  the  Count,  "  without  a  moment's 
delay." 

Tantaine  did  not  wait  for  a  repetition  of  these  words. 
He  passed  through  the  doorway,  and  as  soon  as  he  was 
outside  he  called  out  in  cheerful  accents,  "  Do  not 
forget  the  address,  Number  45,  Rue  Tour  d'Auvergne, 
name  of  Andre,  and  mind  and  be  there  before  eight 
a.m." 

The  Count  made  a  rush  at  him  on  hearing  this  last 
insult,  but  he  was  too  late,  for  Tantaine  slammed  the 
door,  and  was  in  the  hall  before  the  infuriated  master 
of  the  house  could  open  it.    Tantaine  had  resumed  all 


THE   TEMPTER  281 

his  airs  of  humility,  and  took  off  his  hat  to  the  foot- 
men as  he  descended  the  steps.  "  Yes,"  muttered  he, 
as  he  walked  along,  "  the  idea  was  a  happy  one.  Andre 
knows  that  he  is  watched,  and  will  be  careful ;  and  now 
that  M.  de  Mussidan  is  aware  that  his  sweet,  pure 
daughter  has  had  a  lover,  he  will  be  only  too  happy  to 
accept  the  Marquis  de  Croisenois  as  his  son-in-law." 
Tantaine  believed  that  Sabine  was  more  culpable  than 
she  really  had  been,  for  the  idea  of  pure  and  honorable 
love  had  never  entered  his  brain. 


CHAPTER    XXVni. 


THE  TEMPTER. 


By  this  time  Tantaine  was  in  the  Champs  Elysees, 
and  stared  anxiously  around.  "  If  my  Toto  makes  no 
mistake,"  muttered  he,  "  surely  my  order  was  plain 
enough," 

The  old  man  got  very  cross  as  he  at  last  perceived 
the  missing  lad  conversing  with  the  proprietor  of  a  pie- 
stall,  having  evidently  been  doing  a  little  jawing  with 
him. 

"  Toto,"  he  called,  "  Toto,  come  here." 

Toto  Chupin  heard  him,  for  he  looked  round,  but  he 
did  not  move,  for  he  was  certainly  much  interested  in 
the  conversation  he  was  carrying  on.  Tantaine  shouted 
again,  and  this  time  more  angrily  than  before,  and 
Toto,  reluctantly  leaving  his  companion,  came  slowly 
up  to  his  patron. 

"  You  have  been  a  nice  time  getting  here,"  said  the 
lad  sulkily.    "  I  was  just  going  to  cut  it.    Ain't  you 


282         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

well  that  you  make  such  a  row?  If  you  ain't,  I'd  bet- 
ter go  for  a  doctor.'' 

"  I  am  in  a  tremendous  hurry,  Toto." 

"  Yes,  and  so  is  the  postman  when  he  is  behind 
time.    I'm  busy  too." 

"  What,  with  the  man  you  have  just  left?  " 

"  Yes ;  he  is  a  sharper  chap  than  I  am.  How  much 
do  you  earn  every  day,  Daddy.  Tantaine  ?  Well,  that 
chap  makes  his  thirty  or  forty  francs  every  night,  and 
does  precious  little  for  it.  I  should  like  a  business 
like  that,  and  I  think  that  I  shall  secure  one  soon." 

"  Have  patience.  I  thought  that  you  were  going  into 
business  with  those  two  young  men  you  were  drink- 
ing beer  with  at  the  Grand  Turk  ?  " 

Toto  uttered  a  shrill  cry  of  anger  at  these  words. 
"  Business  with  them  ?  "  shrieked  he ;  "  they  are  regu- 
lar clever  night  thieves." 

"  Have  they  done  you  any  harm,  my  poor  lad  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  they  have  utterly  ruined  me.  Luckily,  I  saw 
Mascarin  yesterday,  and  he  set  me  up  in  the  hot-chest- 
nut line.    He  ain't  a  bad  one,  is  Mascarin." 

Tantaine  curled  his  lips  disdainfully.  "  Not  a  bad 
fellow,  I  dare  say,  as  long  as  you  don't  ask  him  for 
anvthing." 

T'jto  was  so  surprised  at  hearing  Tantaine  abuse 
Mascarin,  that  Jie  was  unable  to  utter  a  word. 

"  Ah,  you  may  look  surprised,"  continued  the  old 
man,  "  but  when  a  man  is  rolling  in  riches,  and  leaves 
an  old  friend  to  starve,  then  he  is  not  what  I  call  a 
real  good  fellow.  Now,  Toto,  you  are  a  bright  lad, 
and  so  I  don't  mind  letting  you  know  that  I  am  only 
waiting  for  a  good  chance  to  drop  Mascarin,  and  set 
up  on  my  own  account.    Work  for  yourself,  my  boy." 


THE   TEMPTER  283 

"  I  know  that ;  but  it  is  a  good  deal  easier  to  say  than 
to  do." 

"  You  have  tried  then  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  have ;  but  I  came  to  grief  over  it.  You 
know  all  about  it  as  well  as  I  do,  for  don't  tell  me  you 
didn't  hear  every  word  I  said  that  night  you  were 
hunting  up  Caroline  Schimmel.  However,  I'll  tell  you. 
One  day  when  I  saw  a  lady  who  looked  rather  nervous 
get  out  of  a  cab,  I  followed  her.  I  was  decently 
togged  out,  so  I  rang  at  the  door.  I  was  so  sure  that 
I  was  going  to  make  a  haul  that  I  would  not  have 
taken  ninety-nine  francs  for  the  hundred  that  I  ex- 
pected to  make.  Well,  I  rang,  a  girl  opened  the  door, 
and  in  I  went.  What  an  ass  I  made  of  myself!  I 
found  a  great  brute  of  a  man  there,  who  thrashed  me 
within  an  inch  of  my  life,  and  then  kicked  me  down- 
stairs. See,  he  made  his  mark  rather  more  plainly  than 
I  liked."  And  removing  his  cap,  the  boy  showed  sev- 
eral bruises  about  his  forehead. 

During  this  conversation  Tantaine  and  the  lad  had 
been  walking  slowly  up  the  Champs  Elysees,  and  had 
by  this  time  arrived  just  opposite  M.  Gandelu's  house, 
where  Andre  was  at  work.  Tantaine  sat  down  on  a 
bench. 

"  Let  us  rest  a  bit,"  said  he ;  "I  am  tired  out ;  and 
now  let  me  tell  you,  my  lad,  that  your  tale  only  shows 
me  that  it  is  experience  you  want.  Now,  I  have  any 
amount  of  that,  and  I  was  really  the  prime  mover  in 
most  of  Mascarin's  schemes.  If  1  were  to  start  on  my 
own  account,  I  should  be  driving  in  my  carriage  in 
twelve  months.  The  only  thing  against  my  success  is 
my  age,  for  I  am  getting  to  be  an  old  man.  Why, 
even  now  I  have  a  matter  in  my  hands  which  is  sim- 


284         THE    CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

ply  splendid.  I  have  had  half  the  money  down,  but  I 
want  a  smart  young  fellow  to  pull  it  through." 

"  Why  couldn't  I  be  the  smart  young  fellow  ? " 
asked  Toto. 

Tantaine  shook  his  head.  "  You  are  as  much  too 
young  as  I  am  too  old,"  answered  he.  "  At  your  age 
you  are  too  apt  to  be  frightened,  and  would  shrink 
back  at  the  critical  time.  Besides,  I  have  a  con- 
science." 

"  And  so  have  I,"  exclaimed  Toto ;  "  and  it's  grown 
like  your  own,  old  man;  it  can  be  stretched  for  miles 
and  folded  up  into  nothing." 

"  Well,  we  may  be  able  to  do  something,"  returned 
Tantaine,  as,  drawing  out  a  ragged  check  pocket- 
handkerchief,  he  wiped  his  glasses. 

"  Listen  to  me,  my  lad ;  I'll  put  what  we  call  a  sup- 
posititious case  to  you.  You  hate  those  two  fellows 
who  have  robbed  you,  for  I  suppose  that  is  what  you 
meant ;  well,  suppose  you  knew  that  they  were  at  work 
all  day  on  a  high  scaffold  like  that  one  opposite  to  us, 
what  would  you  do  ?  " 

Toto  scratched  his  head,  and  remarked  after  a 
pause, — 

"  If  that  crack-jawed  idea  you  talk  of  was  true," 
answered  he,  "  those  gay  lads  might  as  well  make  their 
wills,  for  I'd  step  up  the  scaffolding  at  night  and  just 
saw  the  planks  that  they  are  in  the  habit  of  clapping 
their  toes  on,  half  through,  and  when  one  of  the  mates 
stepped  on  it,  why,  there  would  be  a  bit  of  a  smash, 
eh,  Daddy  Tantaine  ?  " 

"  Not  so  bad,  not  so  bad  for  a  lad  of  your  years," 
said  the  old  man  with  an  approving  smile. 

Toto's  bosom  swelled  with  pride. 

"  Besides,"  he  continued,  "  I  would  arrange  matters 


THE   TEMPTER  285 

so  well  that  not  a  soul  would  think  that  I  had  done  the 
trick." 

"  The  more  I  hear  you  speak,  Chupin,"  answered 
Tantaine,  "  the  more  I  believe  you  are  the  lad  I  want, 
and  I  am  sure  that  we  shall  make  heaps  of  money  to- 
gether." 

"  I  am  cock  sure  of  that  too." 

"  You  can  use  carpenters'  tools,  I  think  you  once  told 
me?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Well,"  continued  Tantaine,  "  let  me  tell  you  then 
that  I  know  an  old  man  with  any  amount  of  money, 
and  there  is  a  fellow  whom  he  hates  and  detests,  a 
young  chap  who  ran  off  with  the  girl  he  loved." 

"  The  old  bloke  must  have  been  jolly  wild." 

"  Well,  to  tell  the  truth,  he  wasn't  a  bit  pleased. 
Now  it  so  happens  that  this  gay  young  dog  spends  ten 
hours  a  day  at  least  on  that  very  scaffolding  opposite 
to  us.  The  old  fellow,  who  has  his  head  screwed  on 
the  right  way,  had  the  very  same  idea  as  yours,  but  he 
is  too  old  and  too  stout  to  do  the  trick  for  himself ;  and, 
to  cut  the  matter  short,  he  would  give  five  thousand 
francs  to  the  persons  who  would  carry  out  his  idea. 
Just  think,  two  thousand  francs  for  a  few  cuts  of  a 
saw !  " 

The  boy  was  violently  agitated,  but  Tantaine  pre- 
tended not  to  notice  it. 

"  First,  my  lad,"  said  he,  "  I  must  explain  to  you  in 
what  measure  the  old  gentleman's  plans  are  different 
from  yours.  If  we  did  not  take  care,  some  other  poor 
devil  might  break  his  neck,  but  I  have  hit  on  a  dodge 
to  avoid  all  this." 

"  I  ain't  curious,  but  I  should  like  to  hear  it." 

Tantaine  smiled  blandly. 


286         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

"  Listen !  Do  you  see  high  up  that  little  shed  built 
of  planks  ?  That  is  used  by  the  carvers  and  stone-cut- 
ters. Well,  this  little  house,  a  couple  of  hundred  feet 
above  us,  has  a  kind  of  a  window ;  well,  if  this  window 
and  the  planks  below  it  were  cut  nearly  through,  any 
one  leaning  against  it  would  be  very  likely  to  fall  into 
the  street  and  perhaps  to  hurt  himself." 

Chupin  nodded. 

"  Now,  suppose,"  w^ent  on  Tantaine,  "  that  the  en- 
emy of  our  old  gentleman  was  in  that  little  shed,  all 
at  once  he  hears  a  woman  shriek,  '  Help !  it  is  I  you 
love ;  help  me ! '  what  would  this  young  fellow  do  ? 
Why,  he  would  recognize  the  voice,  rush  to  the  win- 
dow, lean  out,  and  as  the  woodwork  and  supports  had 
been  cut  away,  he  would Well,  do  you  see  now  ?  " 

Chupin  hesitated  for  a  moment. 

"  I  don't  say  I  won't,"  muttered  he ;  "  but,  look  here, 
■will  the  old  chap  pay  down  smart  ?  " 

"  Yes,  and  besides,  did  I  not  tell  you  that  he  had 
given  half  down?  " 

The  boy's  eyes  glistened  as  the  old  man  unpinned 
the  tattered  lining  of  his  pocket,  and  holding  the  pin 
between  his  teeth,  pulled  out  the  banknotes,  each  one 
for  a  thousand  francs.  Chupin's  heart  rose  at  the 
sight  of  this  wealth. 

"  Is  one  of  those  for  me  ?  "  asked  he.  Tantaine  held 
the  note  towards  the  boy,  who  shuddered  at  the  touch 
of  the  crisp  paper  and  kissed  the  precious  object  in  a 
paroxysm  of  pleasure.  He  then  started  from  his  seat, 
and  regardless  of  the  astonishment  of  the  passers-by, 
executed  a  wild  dance  of  triumph. 

All  was  soon  settled.  Toto  was  to  creep  into  the 
unfinished  building  by  night,  and  not  to  leave  it  until 
be  had  completed  his  work.     Tantaine,  who  had  a 


THE   TEMPTER  287 

thought  for  everything,  told  the  boy  what  sort  of  a  saw 
to  employ,  and  gave  him  the  address  of  a  man  who 
supplied  the  best  class  instruments. 

"  You  must  remember,  my  dear  lad,"  said  he,  "  not 
to  leave  behind  you  any  traces  of  your  work  which 
may  cause  suspicion.  One  grain  of  sawdust  on  the 
floor  might  spoil  the  whole  game.  Take  a  dark  lan- 
tern with  you,  grease  your  saw,  and  rasp  out  the  tooth- 
nicks  of  the  saw  when  you  have  finished  your  work." 

Toto  listened  to  the  old  man  in  surprise ;  he  had 
never  thought  that  he  was  of  so  practical  a  turn.  He 
promised  that  he  would  be  careful,  and  imagining  that 
he  had  received  all  his  directions,  rose  to  leave;  but 
the  old  man  still  detained  him. 

"  Here,"  said  he,  "  suppose  you  tell  me  a  little  about 
Caroline  Schimmel.  You  told  Beaumarchef  that  she 
said  I  had  made  her  scream,  and  that  when  she  caught 
me,  I  should  have  a  bad  time  of  it,  eh  ?  " 

"  You  weren't  my  partner  then,"  returned  the  lad 
with  an  impudent  laugh ;  "  and  I  wanted  to  give  you  a 
bit  of  a  fright.  The  truth  is,  that  you  made  the  poor 
old  girl  so  drunk  that  she  has  had  to  go  to  the  hos- 
pital." 

Tantaine  was  overjoyed  at  this  news,  and,  rising 
from  his  seat,  said,  "  Where  are  you  living  now  ?  " 

"  Nowhere  in  particular.  Yesterday  I  slept  in  a 
stable,  but  there  isn't  room  for  all  my  furniture  there, 
so  I  must  shift." 

"  Would  you  like  to  have  my  room  for  a  day  or 
two  ?  "  asked  Tantaine,  chuckling  at  the  boy's  jest.  "  I 
have  moved  from  there,  but  the  attic  is  mine  for  an- 
other fortnight  yet." 

"  I'm  gone;  where  is  it?" 

"  You  know  well  enough,  in  the  Hotel  de  Perou,  Rue 


288         THE    CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

de  la  Hachette.  Then  I  will  send  a  line  to  the  land- 
lady " ;  and  tearing  a  leaf  from  his  pocketbook,  he 
scrawled  on  it  a  few  words,  saying  that  a  young  rela- 
tive of  his,  M.  Chupin,  was  to  have  his  room. 

This  letter,  together  with  his  banknote,  Toto  care- 
fully tied  up  in  the  corner  of  his  neckerchief,  and  as 
he  crossed  the  street  the  old  man  watched  him  for  a 
moment,  and  then  stood  gazing  at  the  workmen  on  the 
scaffolding.  Just  then  Gandelu  and  his  son  came  out, 
and  the  contractor  paused  to  give  a  few  instructions. 
'For  a  few  seconds  Gaston  and  Chupin  stood  side  by 
side,  and  a  strange  smile  flitted  across  Tantaine's  face 
as  he  noted  this.  "  Both  children  of  Paris,"  muttered 
he,  "  and  both  striking  examples  of  the  boasted  civiliza- 
tion. The  dandy  struts  along  the  pavement,  while  the 
street  arab  plays  in  the  gutter." 

But  he  had  no  time  to  spend  in  philosophical  specu- 
lations, as  the  omnibus  that  he  required  appeared,  and 
entering  it,  in  another  half-hour  he  entered  Paul  Vio- 
laine's  lodgings  in  the  Rue  Montmartre. 

The  portress.  Mother  Brigaut,  was  at  her  post  as 
Tantaine  entered  the  courtyard  and  asked, — 

"  And  how  is  our  young  gentleman  to-day  ?  " 

"  Better,  sir,  ever  so  much  better ;  I  made  him  a 
lovely  bowl  of  soup  yesterday,  and  he  drank  up  every 
drop  of  it.  He  looks  like  a  real  king  this  morning, 
and  the  doctor  sent  in  a  dozen  of  wine  to-day,  which 
will,  I  am  sure,  effect  a  perfect  cure." 

With  a  smile  and  a  nod  Tantaine  was  making  his 
way  to  the  stairs,  when  Mother  Brigaut  prevented 
his  progress. 

"  Some  one  was  here  yesterday,"  remarked  she, 
"asking  about  M.  Paul." 

"  What  sort  of  a  looking  person  was  it?  " 


THE   TEMPTER  289 

"  Oh,  a  man  like  any  other,  nothing  particular  about 
him,  but  he  wasn't  a  gentleman,  for  after  keeping  me 
for  fully  fifteen  minutes  talking  and  talking,  he  only 
gave  me  a  five-franc  piece." 

The  description  was  not  one  that  would  lead  to  a 
recognition  of  the  person,  and  Tantaine  asked  in  tones 
of  extreme  annoyance, — 

"  Did  you  not  notice  anything  particular  about  the 
man?" 

"  Yes,  he  had  on  gold  spectacles  with  the  mount- 
ings as  fine  as  a  hair,  and  a  watch  chain  as  thick 
and  heavy  as  I  have  ever  seen." 

"And  is  that  all?" 

"  Yes,"  answered  she.  "  Oh !  there  was  one  thing 
more — the  person  knows  that  you  come  here." 

"  Does  he  ?    Why  do  you  think  so  ?  " 

"  Because  all  the  time  he  was  talking  to  me  he  was 
in  a  rare  fidget,  and  always  kept  his  eyes  on-  the 
door." 

"  Thanks,  Mother  Brigaut ;  mind  and  keep  a  sharp 
lookout,"  returned  Tantaine,  as  he  slowly  ascended 
the  stairs. 

Every  now  and  then  he  paused  to  think.  "  Who 
upon  earth  can  this  fellow  be  ? "  asked  he  of  himself. 
He  reviewed  the  whole  question — chances,  probabili- 
ties, and  risks,  not  one  was  neglected,  but  all  in  vain. 

"  A  thousand  devils  !  "  growled  he  ;  "  are  the  police 
at  my  heels  ?  " 

His  nerves  were  terribly  shaken,  and  he  strove  in 
vain  to  regain  his  customary  audacity.  By  this  time 
he  had  reached  the  door  of  Paul's  room,  and,  on  his 
ringing,  the  door  was  at  once  opened ;  but  at  the  sight 
of  this  woman  he  started  back,  with  a  cry  of  angry 
surprise;  for  it  was  a  female  figure  that  stood  before 


290         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

him,  a  young  girl — Flavia,  the  daughter  of  Martin 
Rigal,  the  banker. 

The  keen  eyes  of  Tantaine  showed  him  that  Flavia's 
visit  had  not  been  of  long  duration.  She  had  removed 
her  hat  and  jacket,  and  was  holding  in  her  hand  a 
piece  of  fancy  work. 

"  Whom  do  you  wish  to  see,  sir  ? "  asked  she. 

The  old  man  strove  to  speak,  but  his  lips  would  not 
frame  a  single  sentence.  A  band  of  steel  seemed  to 
be  compressing  his  throat,  and  he  appeared  like  a 
man  about  to  be  seized  with  an  apoplectic  fit. 

Flavia  gazed  upon  the  shabby-looking  visitor  with 
an  expression  of  intense  disgust.  It  seemed  to  her 
that  she  had  seen  him  somewhere;  in  fact,  there  was 
an  inexplicable  manner  about  him  which  entirely  puz- 
zled her. 

"  I  want  to  speak  to  M.  Paul,"  said  the  old  man  in 
a  low,  hoarse  whisper ;  "  he  is  expecting  me." 

"  Then  come  in ;  but  just  now  his  doctor  is  with 
him." 

She  threw  open  the  door  more  widely,  and  stepped 
back,  so  that  the  greasy  garments  of  the  visitor  might 
not  touch  her  dress.  He  passed  her  with  an  abject 
bow,  and  crossed  the  little  sitting-room  with  the  air  of 
a  man  who  perfectly  understands  his  way.  He  did  not 
knock  at  the  door  of  the  bedroom,  but  went  straight 
in ;  there  a  singular  spectacle  at  once  arrested  his  at- 
tention. Paul,  with  a  very  pale  face,  was  seated  on 
the  bed,  while  Hortebise  was  attentively  examining 
his  bare  shoulder.  The  whole  of  Paul's  right  arm  and 
shoulder  was  a  large  open  wound,  which  seemed  to 
have  been  caused  by  a  burn  or  scald,  and  must  have 
been  extremely  painful.  The  doctor  was  bending  over 
him,  applying  a  cooling  lotion  to  the  injured  place 


THE   TEMPTER  291 

with  a  small  piece  of  sponge.  He  turned  sharply 
round  on  Daddy  Tantaine's  entrance;  and  so  accus- 
tomed were  these  men  to  read  each  other's  faces  at  a 
glance  that  Hortebise  saw  at  once  what  had  hap- 
pened ;  for  Tantaine's  expression  plainly  said,  "  Is  Fla- 
via  mad  to  be  here  ?  "  while  the  eyes  of  Hortebise  an- 
swered, "  She  may  be,  but  I  could  not  help  it." 

Paul  turned,  too,  and  greeted  the  old  man  with  an 
exclamation  of  delight. 

*'  Come  here,"  said  he  merrily,  "  and  just  see  to 
what  a  wretched  state  I  have  been  reduced  between 
the  doctor  and  M.  Mascarin." 

Tantaine  examined  the  wound  carefully.  "  Are  you 
quite  sure,"  asked  he,  "  that  not  only  will  it  deceive  the 
Duke,  who  will  see  but  with  our  eyes,  but  also  those 
of  his  wife,  and  perhaps  of  his  medical  man  ?  " 

"  We  will  hoodwink  the  lot  of  them." 

"  And  how  long  must  we  wait,"  asked  the  old  man, 
**  until  the  place  skins  over,  and  assumes  the  appear- 
ance of  having  been  there  from  childhood  ?  " 

"  In  a  month's  time  Paul  can  be  introduced  to  the 
Duke  de  Champdoce." 

"  Are  you  speaking  seriously  ?  " 

"  Listen  to  me.  The  scar  will  not  be  quite  natural 
then,  but  I  intend  to  subject  it  to  various  other  modes 
of  treatment." 

The  dressing  was  now  over,  and  Paul's  shirt  being 
readjusted,  he  was  permitted  to  lie  down  again. 

"  I  am  quite  willing  to  remain  here  forever,"  said 
he,  "  as  long  as  I  am  allowed  to  retain  the  services  of 
the  nurse  that  I  have  in  the  next  room,  and  who,  I 
am  sure,  is  waiting  with  the  greatest  eagerness  for 
your  departure." 

Hortebise  fumed,  and  cast  a  glance  at  Paul  which 


392         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

seemed  to  say,  "  Be  silent " ;  but  the  conceited  young 
man  paid  no  heed  to  it. 

"  How  long  has  this  charming  nurse  been  with 
you  ?  "  asked  Tantaine  in  an  unnatural  voice. 

"  Ever  since  I  have  been  in  bed,"  returned  Paul  with 
the  air  of  a  gay  young  fellow.  "  I  wrote  a  note  that 
I  was  unable  to  go  over  to  her,  so  she  came  to  me. 
I  sent  my  letter  at  nine  o'clock,  and  at  ten  minutes 
past  she  was  with  me." 

The  diplomatic  doctor  slipped  behind  Tantaine,  and 
made  violent  gestures  to  endeavor  to  persuade  Paul 
to  keep  silence,  but  all  was  in  vain. 

"  M.  Martin  Rigal,"  continued  the  vain  young  fool, 
"  passes  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  his  private 
office.  As  soon  as  he  gets  up  he  goes  there,  and  is  not 
seen  for  the  rest  of  the  day.  Flavia  can  therefore  do 
entirely  as  she  likes.  As  soon  as  she  knows  that  her 
worthy  father  is  deep  in  his  ledgers,  she  puts  on  her 
hat  and  runs  round  to  me,  and  no  one  could  have  a 
kinder  and  a  prettier  visitor  than  she  is." 

The  doctor  was  hard  at  work  at  his  danger  signals, 
but  it  was  useless.  Paul  saw  them,  but  did  not  com- 
prehend their  meaning;  and  Tantaine  rubbed  his 
glasses  savagely. 

"  You  are  perhaps  deceiving  yourself  a  little,"  said 
he  at  last. 

"  And  why  ?  You  know  that  Flavia  loves  me,  poor 
girl.  I  ought  to  marry  her,  and  of  course  I  shall ;  but 
still,  if  I  do  not  do  so — well,  you  know,  I  need  say 
no  more." 

"  You  wretched  scoundrel ! "  exclaimed  the  usu- 
ally placid  Tantaine.  His  manner  was  so  fierce  and 
threatening  that  Paul  shifted  his  position  to  one  nearer 
the  wall. 


THE   TAFILA   COPPER   MINES,    LTD.    293 

It  was  impossible  for  Tantaine  to  say  another  word, 
for  Hortebise  placed  his  hand  upon  his  lips,  and 
dragged  him  from  the  room. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

THE  TAFILA   COPPER    MINES,    LIMITED. 

Paul  could  not  for  the  life  of  him  imagine  why 
Tantaine  had  left  the  room  in  apparently  so  angry 
a  mood.  He  had  certainly  spoken  of  Flavia  in  a  most 
improper  manner ;  for  the  very  weakness  of  which  she 
had  been  guilty  should  have  caused  him  to  treat  her 
with  tender  deference  and  respect.  He  could  under- 
stand the  anger  of  Hortebise,  who  was  Rigal's 
friend;  but  what  on  earth  had  Tantaine  in  common 
with  the  wealthy  banker  and  his  daughter?  Forget- 
ful of  the  pain  which  the  smallest  movement  upon  his 
part  produced,  Paul  sat  up  in  his  bed,  and  listened 
with  intense  eagerness,  hoping  to  catch  what  was  go- 
ing on  in  the  next  room;  but  he  could  hear  nothing 
through  the  thick  walls  and  the  closed  door. 

"What  can  they  be  doing?"  asked  he.  "What 
fresh  plot  are  they  contriving?" 

Daddy  Tantaine  and  Hortebise  passed  out  of  the 
room  hastily,  but  when  they  reached  the  staircase  they 
stood  still.  The  doctor  wore  the  same  smiling  ex- 
pression of  face,  and  he  endeavored  to  calm  his  com- 
panion, who  appeared  to  be  on  the  verge  of  despera- 
tion. 

"  Have  courage,"  whispered  he ;  "  what  is  the  use  of 


294         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

giving  way  to  passion?  You  cannot  help  this;  it  is 
too  late  now.  Besides,  even  if  you  could,  you  would 
not,  as  you  know  very  well,  indeed ! " 

The  old  man  was  moving  his  spectacles,  not  to  wipe 
his  glasses,  but  his  eyes, 

"  Ah !  "  moaned  he,  "  now  I  can  enter  into  the  feel- 
ings of  M,  de  Mussidan  when  I  proved  to  him  that  his 
daughter  had  a  lover.  I  have  been  hard  and  pitiless, 
and  I  am  cruelly  punished." 

"  My  old  friend,  you  must  not  attach  too  much  im- 
portance to  what  you  have  heard.  Paul  is  a  mere 
boy,  and,  of  course,  a  boaster." 

"  Paul  is  a  miserable  cowardly  dog,"  answered  the 
old  man  in  a  fierce  undertone.  "  Paul  does  not  love 
the  girl  as  she  loves  him ;  but  what  he  says  is  true,  only 
too  true,  I  can  feel.  Between  her  father  and  her  lover 
she  would  not  hesitate  for  a  moment.  Ah!  unhappy 
girl,  what  a  terrible  future  lies  before  her." 

He  stopped  himself  abruptly. 

"  I  cannot  speak  to  her  myself,"  resumed  he ;  "  do 
you,  doctor,  strive  and  make  her  have  reason." 

Hortebise  shrugged  his  shoulders.  "  I  will  see 
what  my  powers  of  oratory  can  do,"  answered  he; 
"  but  you  are  not  quite  yourself  to-day.  Remember 
that  a  chance  word  will  betray  the  secret  of  our  lives." 

"  Go  at  once,  and  I  swear  to  you  that,  happen  what 
may,  I  will  be  calm." 

The  doctor  went  back  into  Paul's  room,  while  Tan- 
taine  sat  down  on  the  topmost  stair,  his  face  buried  in 
his  hands. 

Mademoiselle  Flavia  was  just  going  to  Paul,  when 
the  doctor  again  appeared. 

"  What,  back  again  ?  "  asked  she  petulantly.  "  I 
thought  that  you  had  been  far  away  by  this  time." 


THE   TAFILA   COPPER   MINES,   LTD.    295 

"  I  want  to  say  something  to  you,"  answered  he, 
"  and  something  of  a  rather  serious  nature.  You  must 
not  elevate  those  charming  eyebrows.  I  see  you  guess 
what  I  am  going  to  say,  and  you  are  right.  I  am 
come  to  tell  you  that  this  is  not  the  proper  place  for 
Mademoiselle  Rigal." 

"  I  know  that." 

This  unexpected  reply,  made  with  the  calmest  air  in 
the  world,  utterly  disconcerted  the  smiling  doctor. 

"  It  seems  to  me "  began  he. 

"  That  I  ought  not  to  be  here ;  but  then,  you  see, 
I  place  duty  before  cold,  worldly  dictates.  Paul  is 
very  ill,  and  has  no  one  to  take  care  of  him  except 
his  affianced  bride;  for  has  not  my  father  given  his 
consent  to  our  union  ?  " 

"  Flavia,  listen  to  the  experience  of  a  man  of  the 
world.  The  nature  of  men  is  such  that  they  never 
forgive  a  woman  for  compromising  her  reputation, 
even  though  it  be  in  their  own  favor.  Do  you  know 
what  people  will  say  twenty-four  hours  after  your 
marriage?  Why,  that  you  had  been  his  mistress  for 
weeks  before,  and  that  it  was  only  the  knowledge 
of  that  fact  that  inclined  your  father  to  consent  to  the 
alliance." 

Flavia's  face  grew  crimson.  "  Very  well,"  said  she, 
"  I  will  obey,  and  never  say  again  that  I  was  obsti- 
nate ;  but  let  me  say  one  word  to  Paul,  and  then  I  will 
leave  him." 

The  doctor  retired,  not  guessing  that  this  obedience 
arose  from  a  sudden  suspicion  which  had  arisen  in 
Flavia's  mind.  "  It  is  done,"  said  he,  as  he  rejoined 
Tantaine  on  the  stairs ;  "  let  us  hasten,  for  she  will 
follow  us  at  once." 

By  the  time  that  Tantaine  got  into  the  street,  he 


296         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

seemed  to  have  recovered  a  certain  amount  of  his 
self-command.  "  We  have  succeeded,"  said  he,  "  but 
we  shall  have  to  work  hard,  and  this  marriage  must  be 
hastened  by  every  means  in  our  power.  It  can  be  cele- 
brated now  without  any  risk,  for  in  twelve  hours  the 
only  obstacle  that  stands  between  that  youth  there  and 
the  colossal  fortune  of  the  Champdoce  will  have  van- 
ished away." 

Though  he  had  expected  something  of  the  kind,  the 
face  of  the  doctor  grew  very  pale. 

"  What,  Andre  ?  "  faltered  he. 

"  Andre  is  in  great  danger,  doctor,  and  may  not 
survive  to-morrow,  and  a  portion  of  the  work  neces- 
sary to  this  end  will  be  done  to-night  by  our  young 
friend  Toto  Chupin." 

"  By  that  young  scamp  ?  Why,  only  the  other  day 
you  laughed  when  I  suggested  employing  him." 

"  I  shall  this  time  kill  two  birds  with  one  stone. 
Once  an  investigation  is  made — let  us  speak  plainly — 
into  Andre's  death,  there  will  be  some  inquiry  made  as 
to  a  certain  window  frame  that  has  been  sawed 
through,  and  suspicion  will  fall  upon  Toto  Chupin, 
who  will  have  been  seen  lurking  about  the  spot.  It 
will  be  proved  that  he  purchased  a  saw,  and  that  he 
changed  just  before  a  note  for  one  thousand  francs ; 
he  will  be  found  in  hiding  in  a  garret  in  the  Hotel  de 
Perou." 

The  doctor  looked  aghast.  "  Are  you  mad  ?  "  cried 
he.    "  Toto  will  accuse  you." 

"  Very  likely,  but  by  that  time  poor  old  Tantaine 
will  be  dead  and  buried.  Then  Mascarin  will  disap- 
pear, our  faithful  Beaumarchef  will  be  in  the  United 
States,  and  we  can  afford  to  laugh  at  the  police." 

"  It  seems  like  a  success,"  said  the  doctor,  "  but 


THE   TAFILA   COPPER   MINES,   LTD.    297 

push  on  for  mercy's  sake ;  all  these  delays  and  fluctu- 
ations will  make  me  seriously  ill." 

The  two  worthy  associates  held  this  conversation 
concealed  in  a  doorway,  anxious  to  be  sure  that  Fla- 
via  had  kept  her  promise.  In  a  brief  space  of  time 
they  saw  her  come  out  of  the  house  and  move  in  the 
direction  of  her  father's  bank. 

"  Now,"  said  Tantaine,  "  I  can  go  in  peace,  doc- 
tor ;  farewell  for  the  present ; "  and  without  waiting 
for  a  reply  he  was  walking  rapidly  away  when  he  was 
stopped  by  Beaumarchef,  who  came  up  breathless  and 
barred  his  passage. 

"  I  was  looking  for  you,"  cried  he ;  "  the  Marquis 
de  Croisenois  is  in  the  office  and  is  swearing  at  me  like 
anything." 

"  Go  back  to  the  office  and  tell  the  Marquis  that  the 
master  will  soon  be  with  him ; "  and,  thus  speaking, 
Tantaine  disappeared  down  a  court  by  the  side  of 
Martin  Rigal's  house. 

The  Marquis  was  striding  up  and  down  the  office, 
every  now  and  then  discharging  a  rumbling  cannonade 
of  oaths.  "  Fine  business  people,"  remarked  he,  "  to 
make  an  appointment  and  then  not  to  keep  it !  "  He 
checked  himself ;  for  the  door  of  the  inner  office 
slowly  opened,  and  Mascarin  appeared  on  the  thresh- 
old. "  Punctuality,"  said  he,  "  does  not  consist  in 
coming  before,  but  at  the  time  appointed." 

The  Marquis  was  cowed  at  once,  and  followed 
Mascarin  into  the  sanctum  and  watched  him  with  curi- 
ous gaze  as  the  redoubtable  head  of  the  association 
seemed  to  be  searching  for  something  among  the  pa- 
pers on  his  desk.  When  Mascarin  had  found  what 
he  was  in  search  of,  he  turned  and  addressed  the 
Marquis. 


298        THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

"  I  desired  to  see  you,"  said  he,  "with  reference  to 
the  great  financial  enterprise  which  you  are  to  launch 
almost  immediately." 

"  Yes ;  I  understand  that  we  must  discuss  it,  fully 
understand  it,  and  feel  our  way." 

Mascarin  uttered  a  contemptuous  whistle. 

"  Do  you  think,"  asked  he,  "  that  I  am  the  kind  of 
person  to  stand  and  wait  while  you  feel  your  way? 
because  if  you  do,  the  sooner  you  undeceive  yourself 
the  better.  Things  that  I  take  in  hand  are  carried  out 
like  a  flash  of  lightning.  You  have  been  playing  while 
I  and  Catenae  have  been  working,  and  nothing  remains 
to  be  done  but  to  act." 

"  Act !    What  do  you  mean?  " 

"  I  mean  that  offices  have  been  taken  in  the  Rue 
Vivienne,  that  the  articles  of  association  have  been 
drawn  up,  the  directors  chosen,  and  the  Company  reg- 
istered. The  printer  brought  the  prospectus  here  yes- 
terday; you  can  begin  sending  them  out  to-morrow." 

"  But—" 

"  Read  it  for  yourself,"  said  Mascarin,  handing  a 
printed  paper  to  him.  "  Read,  and  then,  perhaps,  you 
will  be  convinced." 

Croisenois,  in  a  dazed  sort  of  manner,  accepted  the 
paper  and  read  it  aloud. 

COPPER  MINES  OF  TAFILA,  ALGERIA. 
Chairman:    The  Marquis  Henri  de  Croisenois. 

Capital:    Four  Million  Francs. 
This  Company  does  not  appeal  to  that  rash  class  of 
speculators  who  are  willing  to  incur  great  risks  for  the 
sake  of  obtaining  for  a  time  heavy  dividends. 

The  shareholders  in  the  Tafila  Copper  Mining  Com- 
pany, Limited,  must  not  look  for  a  dividend  of  more 
than  six,  or  at  the  utmost  seven,  per  cent. 


THE  TAFILA  COPPER  MINES,  LTD.  299. 

"  Well,"  interrupted  Mascarin,  "  what  do  you  think 
of  this  for  a  beginning  ?  " 

"  It  seems  fair  enough,"  answered  De  Croisenois^ 
"  but  suppose  others  than  those  whose  names  you  have 
in  your  black  list  take  shares,  what  do  you  say  we  are 
to  do  then  ?  " 

"  We  should  simply  decline  to  allot  shares  to  them, 
that  is  all.  See  the  Article  XX.  in  the  Articles  of  As- 
sociation. '  The  Board  of  Directors  may  decline  to 
allot  shares  to  applicants  without  giving  any  reason  for 
so  doing.' " 

"  And  suppose,"  continued  the  Marquis,  "  that  one 
of  our  own  people  dispose  of  his  share,  may  we  not 
find  our  new  shareholder  a  thorn  in  our  side  ?  " 

"  Article  XXI.  '  No  transfer  of  stock  is  valid,  un- 
less passed  by  the  Board  of  Directors,  and  recorded 
in  the  books  of  the  Company,* "  read  out  Mas- 
carin. 

"  And  how  will  the  game  be  brought  to  a  conclu- 
sion?" 

"  Easily  enough.  You  will  advertise  one  morning 
that  two-thirds  of  the  capital  having  been  unsuccess- 
fully sunk  in  the  enterprise,  you  are  compelled  to  ap- 
ply for  a  winding-up  of  the  Company  under  Article 
XVII.  Six  months  afterwards  you  will  announce  that 
the  liquidation  of  the  Company  has,  after  all  expenses 
have  been  paid,  left  no  balance  whatsoever.  Then  you 
wash  your  hands  of  the  whole  thing,  and  the  matter  is 
at  an  end." 

Croisenois  felt  that  he  had  no  ground  to  stand  upon, 
but  he  ventured  on  one  more  objection. 

"  It  seems  rather  a  strange  thing  to  launch  this  en- 
terprise at  the  present  moment.  May  it  not  interfere 
with  my  marriage  prospects?  and  may  not  the  Count 


300         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

de  Mussidan  decline  to  give  me  his  daughter  and  risk 
her  dowry  in  this  manner  ?    One  moment,  I " 

The  agent  sneered  and  cut  short  the  tergiversations 
of  the  Marquis. 

"  You  mean,  I  suppose,"  said  he,  "  that  when  once 
you  are  safely  married  and  have  received  Mademoi- 
selle Sabine's  dowry,  you  will  take  leave  of  us.  Not 
so,  my  dear  young  friend ;  and  if  this  is  your  idea, 
put  it  aside,  for  it  is  utter  nonsense.  I  should  hold 
you  then  as  I  do  now." 

The  Marquis  saw  that  any  further  struggle  would 

be  of  no  avail,  and  gave  in. 

***** 

That  evening,  when  M.  Martin  Rigal  emerged  from 
his  private  office,  his  daughter  Flavia  was  more  than 
usually  demonstrative  in  her  tokens  of  affection. 
"  How  fondly  I  love  you,  my  dearest  father ! "  said 
she,  as  she  rained  kisses  on  his  cheeks.  "  How  good 
you  are  to  me ! "  but  on  this  occasion  the  banker  was 
too  much  preoccupied  to  ask  his  daughter  the  reason 
for  this  extreme  tenderness  on  her  part. 


CHAPTER    XXX. 

THE    VEILED     PORTRAIT. 

The  danger  with  which  Andre  was  menaced  was 
most  terrible,  and  the  importance  of  the  game  he  was 
playing  made  him  feel  that  he  had  everything  to  fear 
from  the  boldness  and  audacity  of  his  enemies.  He 
knew  this,  and  he  also  knew  that  spies  dogged  all  his 
movements.     What  could  be  wanted  but  a  favorable 


THE   VEILED   PORTRAIT  301 

opportunity  to  assassinate  him  ?  But  even  this  knowl- 
edge did  not  make  him  hesitate  for  an  instant,  and  all 
his  caution  was  fully  exercised,  for  he  felt  that  should 
he  perish,  Sabine  would  be  inevitably  lost.  On  her 
account  he  acted  with  a  prudence  which  was  certainly 
not  one  of  his  general  characteristics.  He  was  quite 
aware  that  he  might  put  himself  under  the  protection 
of  the  police,  but  this  he  knew  would  be  to  imperil 
the  honor  of  the  Mussidan  family.  He  was  sure  that 
with  time  and  patience  he  should  be  able  to  unravel 
the  plots  of  the  villains  who  were  at  work.  But  he 
had  not  time  to  do  so  by  degrees.  No,  he  must  make 
a  bold  dash  at  once.  The  hideous  sacrifice  of  which 
Sabine  was  to  be  the  victim  was  being  hurried  on, 
and  it  seemed  to  him  as  if  his  very  existence  was  be- 
ing carried  away  by  the  hours  as  they  flitted  by.  He 
went  over  recent  events  carefully  one  by  one,  and  he 
strove  to  piece  them  together  as  a  child  does  the  por- 
tions of  a  dissected  map.  He  wanted  to  find  out  the 
one  common  interest  that  bound  all  these  plotters  to- 
gether— Verminet,  Van  Klopen,  Mascarin,  Hortebise, 
and  Martin  Rigal.  As  he  submitted  all  this  strange 
combination  of  persons  to  the  test,  the  thought  of 
Gaston  de  Gandelu  came  across  his  mind. 

"  Is  it  not  curious,"  thought  he,  "  that  this  unhappy 
boy  should  be  the  victim  of  the  cruel  band  of  mis- 
creants who  are  trying  to  destroy  us?  It  is  strange, 
very  strange." 

Suddenly  he  started  to  his  feet,  for  a  fresh  idea  had 
flashed  across  his  brain — a  thought  that  was  as  yet 
but  crude  and  undefined,  but  which  seemed  to  bear 
the  promise  of  hope  and  deliverance.  It  seemed  to  him 
that  the  affair  of  young  Gandelu  was  closely  connected 
with  his  own,  that  they  were  part  and  parcel  of  the 


^02         THE   CHAMPDOCE  MYSTERY 

same  dark  plot,  and  that  these  bills  with  their  forged 
acceptance  had  more  to  do  with  him  than  he  had  ever 
imagined.  How  it  was  that  he  and  Gaston  could  be 
connected  he  could  not  for  a  moment  guess ;  yet  now 
he  would  have  cheerfully  sworn  that  such  was  the 
case.  Who  was  it  that  had  informed  the  father  of  the 
son's  conduct  ?  Why,  Catenae.  Who  had  advised  that 
proceedings  should  be  taken  against  Rose,  alias  Zora  ? 
Why,  Catenae  again ;  and  this  same  man,  in  addition  to 
acting  for  Gandelu,  it  seems,  was  also  the  confidential 
solicitor  of  the  Marquis  de  Croisenois  and  Verminet. 
Perhaps  he  had  only  obeyed  their  instructions.  All 
this  was  very  vague  and  unsatisfactory,  but  it  might 
be  something  to  go  upon,  and  who  could  say  what 
-conclusion  careful  inquiry  might  not  lead  him  to?  and 
Andre  determined  to  carry  on  his  investigations,  and 
endeavor  to  find  the  hidden  links  that  connected  this 
■chain  of  rascality  together.  He  had  taken  up  a  pencil 
with  the  view  of  making  a  few  notes,  when  he  heard 
a  knock  at  his  door.  He  glanced  at  the  clock ;  it  was 
not  yet  nine. 

"  Come  in,"  cried  he  as  he  rose. 

The  door  was  thrown  open,  and  the  young  artist 
started  as  he  recognized  in  his  early  visitor  the  father 
of  Sabine.  It  was  after  a  sleepless  night  that  the 
Count  had  decided  to  take  the  present  step.  He  was 
terribly  agitated,  but  had  had  time  to  prepare  himself 
for  this  all-important  interview. 

"  You  will,  I  trust,  pardon  me,  sir,"  said  he,  "  for 
making  such  an  early  call  upon  you,  but  I  thought 
that  I  should  be  sure  to  find  you  at  this  hour,  and  I 
much  wanted  to  see  you." 

Andre  bowed. 

In  the  space  of  one  brief  instant  a  thousand  sup- 


THE   VEILED    PORTRAIT  303 

positions,  each  one  more  unlikely  than  the  other, 
coursed  through  his  brain.  Why  had  the  Count 
called  ?  Who  could  have  given  him  his  address  ?  And 
was  the  visit  friendly  or  hostile? 

"I  am  a  great  admirer  of  paintings,"  began  the 
Count,  "  and  one  of  my  friends  upon  whose  taste  I 
can  rely  has  spoken  to  me  in  the  warmest  terms  of 
your  talent.     This  I  trust  will  explain  the  liberty  I 

have  taken.    Curiosity  drove  me  to " 

He  paused  for  a  moment,  and  then  added, — 
"  My  name  is  the  Marquis  de  Bevron," 
The  concealment  of  the  Count's  real  name  showed 
Andre  that  the  visit  was  not  entirely  a  friendly  one, 
and  Andre  replied, — 

"  I  am  only  too  pleased  to  receive  your  visit.  Un- 
fortunately just  now  I  have  nothing  ready,  only  a 
few  rough  sketches  in  short.  Would  you  like  to  see 
them?" 

The  Count  replied  eagerly  in  the  affirmative.  He 
was  terribly  embarrassed  under  his  fictitious  name,  and 
shrank  before  the  honest,  open  gaze  of  the  young  ar- 
tist, and  his  mental  disturbance  was  completed  by  see- 
ing in  one  corner  of  the  room  the  picture  covered  with 
a  green  cloth,  which  Tantaine  had  alluded  to.  It  was 
evident  that  the  old  villain  had  told  the  truth,  and  that 
his  daughter's  portrait  was  concealed  behind  this  wrap- 
per. She  had  evidently  been  here — had  spent  hours 
here,  and  whose  fault  was  it?  She  had  but  listened 
to  the  voice  of  her  heart,  and  had  sought  that  affection 
abroad  which  she  was  unable  to  obtain  at  home.  As 
the  Count  gazed  upon  the  young  man  before  him,  he 
was  forced  to  admit  that  Mademoiselle  Sabine  had 
not  fixed  her  affections  on  an  unworthy  object,  for 
at  the  very  first  glance  he  had  been  struck  with  the 


304         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

manly  beauty  of  the  young  artist,  and  the  clear  intelli- 
gence of  his  face. 

"  Ah,"  thought  Andre,  "  you  come  to  me  under  a 
name  that  is  not  your  own,  and  I  will  respect  your 
wish  to  remain  unknown,  but  I  will  take  advantage  of 
it  by  letting  you  know  things  which  I  should  not  dare 
say  to  your  face." 

Great  as  was  Andre's  preoccupation,  he  could  not 
fail  to  notice  that  his  visitor's  eyes  sought  the  veiled 
picture  with  strange  persistency.  While  M,  de  Mus- 
sidan  was  looking  at  the  various  sketches  on  the  walls, 
Andre  had  time  to  recover  all  his  self-command. 

"  Let  me  congratulate  you,  sir,"  remarked  the 
Count,  as  he  returned  to  the  spot  where  the  painter 
was  standing.  "  My  friend's  admiration  was  well 
founded.  I  am  sorry,  however,  that  you  have  nothing 
finished  to  show  me.  You  say  that  you  have  nothing, 
I  believe?" 

"Nothing,  Marquis." 

"  Not  even  that  picture  whose  frame  I  can  distin- 
guish through  the  serge  curtain  that  covers  it?" 

Andre  blushed,  though  he  had  been  expecting  the 
question  from  the  commencement. 

"  Excuse  me,"  answered  he ;  "  that  picture  is  cer- 
tainly finished,  but  it  is  not  on  view." 

The  Count  was  now  sure  that  Tantaine's  statement 
was  correct. 

"  I  suppose  that  it  is  some  woman's  portrait,"  re- 
marked the  false  Marquis. 

"  You  are  quite  correct." 

Both  men  were  much  agitated  at  this  moment,  and 
avoided  meeting  each  other's  eyes. 

The  Count,  however,  had  made  up  his  mind  that 
he  would  go  on  to  the  end. 


THE   VEILED    PORTRAIT  305 

"  Ah,  you  are  in  love,  I  see ! "  remarked  he  with  a 
forced  laugh.  "  All  great  artists  have  depicted  the 
charms  of  their  mistresses  on  canvas." 

"  Stop,"  cried  Andre  with  an  angry  glance  in  his 
eyes.  "  The  picture  you  refer  to  is  the  portrait  of  the 
purest  and  most  innocent  girl  in  the  world.  I  shall 
love  her  all  my  life ;  but,  if  possible,  my  respect  for  her 
is  greater  than  my  love.  I  should  consider  myself  a 
most  degraded  wretch,  had  I  ever  whispered  in  her  ear 
a  word  that  her  mother  might  not  have  listened  to." 

A  feeling  of  the  most  instantaneous  relief  thrilled 
through  M.  de  Mussidan's  heart. 

"  You  will  pardon  me,"  suggested  he  blandly,  "  but 
when  one  sees  a  portrait  in  a  studio,  the  inference  is 
that  a  sitting  or  two  has  taken  place  ?  " 

"  You  are  right.  She  came  here  secretly,  and  with- 
out the  knowledge  of  her  family,  at  the  risk  of  her 
honor  and  reputation,  thus  affording  me  the  strongest 
proof  of  her  love.  It  was  cruel  of  me,"  continued  the 
young  artist,  "  to  accept  this  proof  of  her  entire  de- 
votion, and  yet  not  only  did  I  accept  it,  but  I  pleaded 
for  it  on  my  bended  knees,  for  how  else  was  I  to  hear 
the  music  of  her  voice,  or  gladden  my  eyes  with  her 
beauty?  We  love  each  other,  but  a  gulf  wider  than 
the  stormy  sea  divides  us.  She  is  an  heiress,  come  of 
a  proud  and  haughty  line  of  nobles,  while  I " 

Andre  paused,  waiting  for  some  words  either  of  en- 
couragement or  censure ;  but  the  Count  remained 
silent,  an4  the  young  man  continued, — 

"  Do  you  know  who  I  am  ?  A  poor  foundling, 
placed  in  the  Hospital  of  Vendome,  the  illicit  offspring 
of  some  poor  betrayed  girl.  I  started  in  the  world 
with  twenty  francs  in  my  pocket,  and  found  my  way 
to  Paris;  since  then  I  have  earned  my  bread  by  my 


3o6         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

daily  work.  You  only  see  here  the  more  brilliant  side 
of  my  life;  for  an  artist  here — I  am  a  common  work- 
man elsewhere," 

If  M.  de  Mussidan  remained  silent,  it  was  from  ex- 
treme admiration  of  the  noble  character,  which  was 
so  unexpectedly  revealed  to  him,  and  he  was  endeav- 
oring to  conceal  it. 

"  She  knows  all  this,"  pursued  Andre,  "  and  yet  she 
loves  me.  It  was  here,  in  this  very  room,  that  she 
vowed  that  she  could  never  be  the  wife  of  another. 
Not  a  month  ago,  a  gentleman,  well  born,  wealthy,  and 
fascinating,  with  every  characteristic  that  a  woman 
could  love,  was  a  suitor  for  her  hand.  She  went 
boldly  to  him,  told  him  the  story  of  our  love,  and,  like 
a  noble-hearted  gentleman,  he  withdrew  at  once,  and 
to-day  is  my  best  and  kindest  friend.  Now,  Marquis, 
would  you  like  to  see  this  young  girl's  picture  ?  " 

"Yes,"  answered  the  Count,  "  and  I  shall  feel  deeply 
grateful  to  you  for  such  a  mark  of  confidence." 

Andre  went  to  the  picture,  but  as  he  touched  the 
curtain  he  turned  quickly  towards  his  visitor. 

"  No,"  said  he,  "  I  can  no  longer  continue  this 
farce;  it  is  unworthy  of  me." 

M.  de  Mussidan  turned  pale. 

"  I  am  about  to  see  Sabine  de  Mussidan's  portrait. 
Draw  the  curtain." 

Andre  obeyed,  and  for  a  moment  the  Count  stood 
entranced  before  the  work  of  genius  that  met  his 
eyes. 

"  It  is  she ! "  said  the  father.  "  Her  very  smile ; 
the  same  soft  light  in  her  eyes.    It  is  exquisite !  " 

Misfortune  is  a  harsh  teacher;  some  weeks  ago  he 
would  have  smiled  superciliously  at  the  mere  idea  of 
granting  his  daughter's  hand  to  a  struggling  artist,  for 


GASTON'S   DILEMMA  307 

then  he  thought  only  of  M.  de  Breulh,  but  now  he 
would  have  esteemed  it  a  precious  boon  had  he  been 
allowed  to  choose  Andre  as  Sabine's  husband.  But 
Henri  de  Croisenois  stood  in  the  way,  and  as  this 
idea  flashed  across  the  Count's  mind  he  gave  a  per- 
ceptible start.  He  was  sure  from  the  excessive  calm- 
ness of  the  young  man  that  he  must  be  well  acquainted 
with  all  recent  events.  He  asked  the  question,  and 
Andre,  in  the  most  open  manner,  told  him  all  he 
knew.  The  generosity  of  M.  de  Breulh,  the  kindness 
of  Madame  Bois  Arden,  his  suspicions,  his  inquiries, 
his  projects,  and  his  hopes.  M.  de  Mussidan  gazed 
once  more  upon  his  daughter's  portrait,  and  then, 
taking  the  hand  of  the  young  painter,  said, — 

"  M.  Andre,  if  ever  we  can  free  ourselves  from 
those  miscreants,  whose  daggers  are  pointed  at  our 
hearts,  Sabine  shall  be  your  wife." 


CHAPTER   XXXI. 
Gaston's  dilemma. 

Yes,  Sabine  might  yet  be  his,  but  between  the  lovers 
stood  the  forms  of  Croisenois  and  his  associates.  But 
now  he  felt  strong  enough  to  contend  with  them  all. 

"  To  work !  "  said  he,  "  to  work !  " 

Just  then,  however,  he  heard  a  sound  of  ringing 
laughter  outside  his  door.  He  could  distinguish  a 
woman's  voice,  and  also  a  man's,  speaking  in  high, 
shrill  tones.  All  at  once  his  door  burst  open,  and  a 
hurricane  of  silks,  velvets,  feathers,  and  lace  whirled 


3o8         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

in.  With  extreme  surprise,  the  young  artist  recog- 
nized the  beautiful  features  of  Rose,  alias  Zora  de 
Chantemille,  Gaston  de  Gandelu  followed  her,  and  at 
once  began, — 

"  Here  we  are,"  said  he,  "  all  right  again.  Did  you 
expect  to  see  us  ?  " 

"  Not  in  the  least." 

"  Ah !  well,  it  is  a  little  surprise  of  the  governor's. 
On  my  word,  I  really  will  be  a  dutiful  son  for  the 
future.  To-day,  the  good  old  boy  came  into  my  room, 
and  said,  '  This  morning  I  took  the  necessary  steps  to 
release  the  person  in  whom  you  are  interested.  Go 
and  meet  her.'  What  do  you  think  of  that?  So  off 
I  ran  to  find  Zora,  and  here  we  are." 

Andre  did  not  pay  much  attention  to  Gaston,  but 
was  engaged  in  watching  Zora,  who  was  looking 
round  the  studio.  She  went  up  to  Sabine's  portrait, 
and  was  about  to  draw  the  curtain,  when  Andre  ex- 
claimed,— 

"  Excuse  me,"  said  he ;  "I  must  put  this  picture  to 
dry."  And  as  the  portrait  stood  on  a  movable  easel, 
he  wheeled  it  into  the  adjoining  room, 

"  And  now,"  said  Gaston,  "  I  want  you  to  come  and 
breakfast  with  us  to  celebrate  Zora's  happy  release." 

"  I  am  much  obliged  to  you,  but  it  is  impossible.  I 
must  get  on  with  my  work." 

"  Yes,  yes ;  work  is  an  excellent  thing,  but  just  now 
you  must  go  and  dress." 

"  I  assure  you  that  it  is  quite  out  of  the  question. 
I  cannot  leave  the  studio  yet." 

Gaston  paused  for  a  moment  in  deep  thought. 

"  I  have  it,"  said  he  triumphantly.  "  You  will  not 
come  to  breakfast;  then  breakfast  shall  come  to  you. 
I  am  ofif  to  order  it." 


ALL  AT  ONCE  HIS  DOOR  BtTRST  OPEN,  AND  A  HURRICANE   OF  SILKS, 
VELVETS,  FEATHERS,  AND  LACE  WHIRLED  IN 


GASTON'S    DILEMMA  309 

Andre  ran  after  him,  but  Gaston  was  too  quick,  and 
he  returned  to  the  studio  in  anything  but  an  amiable 
temper,     Zora  noticed  his  evident  annoyance. 

"  He  always  goes  on  in  this  absurd  way,"  said  she, 
with  a  shrug  of  her  pretty  shoulders,  "  and  thinks  him- 
self so  clever  and  witty,  bah !  " 

Her  tone  disclosed  such  contempt  for  Gaston  that 
Andre  looked  at  her  in  perplexed  surprise. 

"  What  do  you  look  so  astonished  at?  It  is  easy  to 
see  you  do  not  know  much  of  him.  All  his  friends 
are  just  like  him;  if  you  listen  to  them  for  half  an 
hour  at  a  stretch,  you  get  regularly  sick.  When  I 
think  of  the  terrible  evenings  that  I  have  spent  in 
their  company,  I  feel  ready  to  die  with  yawning;" 
and  as  she  spoke,  she  suited  the  action  to  the  word. 
"  Ah !  if  he  really  loved  me !  "  added  she. 

"  Love  you !    Why,  he  adores  you." 

Zora  made  a  little  gesture  of  contempt  which  Toto 
Chupin  might  have  envied. 

"  Do  you  think  so  ?  "  said  she.  "  Do  you  know  what 
it  is  he  loves  in  me?  When  people  pass  me  they  cry 
out,  *  Isn't  she  good  style  ? '  and  then  the  idiot  is  as 
pleased  as  Punch ;  but  if  I  had  on  a  cotton  gown,  he 
would  think  nothing  of  me." 

Rose  had  evidently  learned  a  good  deal,  as  her 
beauty  had  never  been  so  radiant.  She  was  one 
glow  of  health  and  strength. 

"  Then  my  name  was  not  good  enough  for  him," 
she  went  on.  "His  aristocratic  lips  could  not  bring 
themselves  to  utter  such  a  common  name  as  Rose,  so 
he  christened  me  Zora,  a  regular  puppy  dog's  name. 
He  has  plenty  of  money,  but  money  is  not  everything 
after  all.  Paul  had  no  money,  and  yet  I  loved  him  a 
thousand  times  better.     On  my  word,  I  have  almost 


3IO         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

forgotten  how  to  laugh,  and  yet  I  used  to  be  as  merry 
as  the  day  was  long." 

"  Why  did  you  leave  Paul  then  ?  " 

"  Well,  you  see,  I  wanted  to  experience  what  a 
woman  feels  when  she  has  a  Cashmere  sha\\'i  on,  so 
one  fine  morning  I  took  wing.  But  there,  who  knows  ? 
Paul  would  very  likely  have  left  me  one  day.  There 
was  some  one  who  was  doing  his  best  to  separate  us, 
an  old  blackguard  called  Tantaine,  who  lived  in  the 
same  house." 

"  Ah !  "  answered  he  cautiously.  "  What  interest 
could  he  have  had  in  separating  you  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,"  answered  the  girl,  assuming  a  seri- 
ous air ;  "  but  I  am  sure  he  was  trying  it  on.  A  fellow 
doesn't  hand  over  banknotes  for  nothing,  and  I  saw 
him  give  one  for  five  hundred  francs  to  Paul ;  and 
more  than  that,  he  promised  him  that  he  should  make 
a  great  fortune  through  a  friend  of  his  called  Mas- 
carin." 

Andre  started.  He  remembered  the  visit  that  Paul 
had  made  him,  on  the  pretext  of  restoring  the  twenty 
francs  he  had  borrowed,  and  at  which  he  had  boasted 
that  he  had  an  income  of  a  thousand  francs  a  month, 
and  might  make  more,  though  he  had  not  said  how 
this  was  to  be  done.  "  I  think  that  Paul  has  forgotten 
me.  I  saw  him  once  at  Van  Klopen's,  and  he  never 
attempted  to  say  a  word  to  me.  He  was  certainly 
with  that  Mascarin  at  the  time." 

Andre  could  only  draw  one  conclusion  from  this, 
either  that  Paul  was  protected  by  the  band  of  con- 
spirators, or  else  that  he  formed  one  of  it.  In  that 
case  he  was  useful  to  them;  while  Rose,  who  was  in 
their  way,  was  persecuted  by  them.  Andre's  mind 
came  to  this  conclusion  in  an  instant.     It  seemed  to 


GASTON'S    DILEMMA  311 

him  that  if  Catenae  had  been  desirous  of  imprison- 
ing Rose,  it  was  because  she  was  in  the  way,  and  her 
presence  disturbed  certain  combinations.  Before,  how- 
ever, he  could  work  out  his  Hne  of  deduction,  Gaston's 
shrill  voice  was  heard  upon  the  stairs,  and  in  another 
moment  he  made  his  appearance. 

"  Place  for  the  banquet,"  said  he ;  "  make  way  for 
the  lordly  feast." 

Two  waiters  followed  him,  bearing  a  number  of  cov- 
ered dishes  on  trays.  At  another  time  Andre  would 
have  been  very  angry  at  this  invasion,  and  at  the 
prospect  of  a  breakfast  that  would  last  two  or  three 
hours  and  utterly  change  everything;  but  now  he  was 
inclined  to  bless  Gaston  for  his  happy  idea,  and,  with 
the  assistance  of  Rose,  he  speedily  cleared  a  large 
table  for  the  reception  of  the  viands. 

Gaston  did  nothing,  but  talked  continually. 

"  And  now  I  must  tell  you  the  joke  of  the  day. 
Henri  de  Croisenois,  one  of  my  dearest  friends,  has 
absolutely  launched  a  Company." 

Andre  nearly  let  fall  a  bottle,  which  he  was  about 
to  place  upon  the  table. 

"  Who  told  you  this  ?  "  asked  he  quickly. 

"  Who  told  me  ?  Why,  a  great  big  flaming  poster. 
Tafila  Copper  Mines ;  capital,  four  millions.  And  my 
esteemed  friend,  Henri,  has  not  a  five-franc  piece  to 
keep  the  devil  out  of  his  pocket." 

The  face  of  the  young  artist  expressed  such  blank 
surprise  that  Gaston  burst  into  a  loud  laugh. 

"  You  look  just  as  I  did  when  I  read  it.  Henri  de 
Croisenois,  the  chairman  of  a  Company!  Why,  if  you 
had  been  elected  Pope,  I  should  not  have  been  more 
surprised.  Tafila  Copper  Mines !  What  a  joke !  The 
shares  are  five  hundred  francs." 


312         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

The  waiters  had  now  retired,  and  Gaston  urged  his 
friends  to  take  their  places  at  the  table,  and  all  seemed 
merry  as  a  marriage  bell ;  but  many  a  gay  com- 
mencement has  a  stormy  ending. 

Gaston,  whose  shallow  brain  could  not  stand  the 
copious  draughts  of  wine  with  which  he  washed  down 
his  repast,  began  all  at  once  to  overwhelm  Zora  with 
bitter  reproaches  at  her  not  being  able  to  comprehend 
how  a  man  like  him,  who  was  destined  to  play  a  seri- 
ous part  in  society,  could  have  been  led  away,  as  he  had 
been,  by  a  person  like  her. 

Gaston  had  a  tongue  which  was  never  at  a  loss 
either  to  praise  or  blame,  and  Zora  was  equally  ready 
to  retort,  and  defended  herself  with  such  acrimony 
that  the  lad,  knowing  himself  to  be  in  fault,  entirely 
lost  the  small  remnant  of  temper  which  he  still  pos- 
sessed, and  dashed  out  of  the  room,  declaring  that  he 
never  wished  to  set  eyes  upon  Zora  again,  and  that  she 
might  keep  all  the  presents  that  he  had  lavished  upon 
her  for  all  he  cared. 

His  departure  was  hailed  with  delight  by  Andre, 
who,  now  that  he  was  left  alone  with  Zora,  hoped  to 
derive  some  further  information  from  her,  and  espe- 
cially a  distinct  description  of  Paul,  whom  he  felt  that 
he  must  now  reckon  among  his  adversaries.  But  his 
hopes  were  destined  to  be  frustrated,  for  Zora  was  so 
filled  with  anger  and  excitement  that  she  refused  to 
listen  to  another  word;  and  putting  on  her  hat  and 
mantle,  with  scarcely  a  glance  at  the  mirror,  rushed 
out  of  the  studio  with  the  utmost  speed,  declaring 
that  she  would  seek  out  Paul,  and  make  him  revenge 
the  insults  that  Gaston  had  put  on  her. 

All  this  passed  so  rapidly  that  the  young  painter 
felt  as  if  a  tornado  had  passed  through  his  humble 


GASTON'S    DILEMMA  313 

dwelling ;  but  as  peace  and  calm  returned,  he  began  to 
see  that  Providence  had  directly  interposed  in  his 
favor,  and  had  sent  Rose  and  Gaston  to  his  place  to 
furnish  him  with  fresh  and  important  facts.  All  that 
Rose  had  said,  incomplete  as  her  statement  was,  had 
thrown  a  ray  of  light  upon  an  intrigue  which,  up  till 
now,  had  been  shaded  in  the  thickest  gloom.  The 
relations  of  Paul  with  Mascarin  explained  why  Cate- 
nae had  been  so  anxious  to  have  Rose  imprisoned,  and 
also  seemed  to  hint  vaguely  at  the  reason  for  the  ex- 
traction of  the  forged  signatures  from  the  simple 
Gaston.  What  could  be  the  meaning  of  the  Company 
started  by  De  Croisenois  at  the  very  moment  when  he 
was  about  to  celebrate  his  union  with  Sabine  ? 

Andre  desired  to  see  the  advertisement  of  the  Com- 
pany for  himself;  and  without  stopping  to  change  his 
blouse,  ran  downstairs  to  the  corner  of  the  street, 
where  Gaston  had  told  him  that  the  announcement  of 
the  Company  was  placarded  up.  He  found  it  there,  in 
a  most  conspicuous  position,  with  all  its  advantages 
most  temptingly  set  forth.  Nothing  was  wanting; 
and  there  was  even  a  woodcut  of  Tafila,  in  Algiers, 
which  represented  the  copper  mines  in  full  working 
operation ;  while  at  the  top,  the  name  of  the  chairman, 
the  Marquis  de  Croisenois,  stood  out  in  letters  some 
six  inches  in  height. 

Andre  stood  gazing  at  this  wonderful  production  for 
fully  five  minutes,  when  all  at  once  a  gleam  of  pru- 
dence flashed  across  his  mind. 

"  I  am  a  fool,"  said  he  to  himself.  *'  How  do  I 
know  how  many  watchful  eyes  are  now  fixed  on  me,^ 
reading  on  my  countenance  my  designs  regarding  this 
matter  and  its  leading  spirit  ?  " 

Upon  his  return  to  his  room,  he  sat  for  more  than 


314         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

an  hour,  turning  over  the  whole  affair  in  his  mind,  and 
at  length  he  flattered  himself  that  he  had  hit  upon 
an  expedient.  Behind  the  house  in  which  he  lodged 
was  a  large  garden,  belonging  to  some  public  institu- 
tion, the  front  of  which  was  in  the  Rue  Laval.  A 
wall  of  about  seven  feet  in  height  divided  these 
grounds  from  the  premises  in  the  Rue  de  la  Tour 
■d'Auvergne.  Why  should  he  not  go  out  by  the  way 
of  these  ornamental  grounds  and  so  elude  the  vigilance 
of  the  spies  who  might  be  in  waiting  at  the  front  of 
the  house? 

"  I  can,"  thought  he,  "  alter  my  appearance  so  much 
that  I  shall  not  be  recognized.  I  need  not  return  here 
to  sleep.  I  can  ask  a  bed  from  Vignol,  who  will  also 
lielp  me  in  every  possible  way." 

This  Vignol  was  the  friend  to  whom,  at  Andre's 
request,  M.  Gandelu  had  given  the  superintendence  of 
the  works  at  his  new  house  in  the  Champs  Elysees. 

"  I  shall,"  continued  he,  "  by  this  means  escape 
•entirely  from  De  Croisenois  and  his  emissaries,  and 
can  watch  their  game  without  their  having  any  sus- 
picion of  my  doing  so.  For  the  time  being,  of  course, 
I  must  give  up  seeing  those  who  have  been  helping 
me — De  Breulh,  Gandelu,  Madame  de  Bois  Arden, 
and  M.  de  Mussidan ;  that,  however,  cannot  be 
avoided.  I  can  use  the  post,  and  by  it  will  inform 
them  all  of  the  step  that  I  have  taken." 

It  was  dark  before  he  had  finished  his  letters,  and, 
of  course,  it  was  too  late  to  try  anything  that  day ;  con- 
sequently he  went  out,  posted  his  letters,  and  dined  at 
the  nearest  restaurant. 

On  his  return  home,  he  proceeded  to  arrange  his  dis- 
guise. He  had  it  ready,  among  his  clothes :  a  blue 
blouse,  a  pair  of  check  trousers,  well-worn  shoes,  and 


GASTON'S    DILEMMA  315 

a  shabby  cap,  were  all  that  he  required,  and  he  then  ap- 
pHed  himself  to  the  task  of  altering  his  face.  He  first 
shaved  off  his  beard.  Then  he  twisted  down  two  locks 
of  hair,  which  he  managed  to  make  rest  on  his  fore- 
head. Then  he  commenced  applying  some  coloring 
to  his  face  with  a  paint-brush ;  but  this  he  found  to  be 
an  extremely  difficult  business,  and  it  was  not  for  a 
long  while  that  he  was  satisfied  with  the  results  that 
he  had  produced.  He  then  knotted  an  old  handker- 
chief round  his  neck,  and  clapped  his  cap  on  one  side, 
with  the  peak  slanting  over  one  eye.  Then  he  took  a 
last  glance  in  the  glass,  and  felt  that  he  had  rendered 
himself  absolutely  unrecognizable.  He  was  about  to 
impart  a  few  finishing  touches,  when  a  knock  came  at 
his  door.  He  was  not  expecting  any  one  at  such  an 
hour,  nine  o'clock;  for  the  waiters  from  the  restau- 
rant had  already  removed  the  remains  of  the  feast. 

"  Who  is  there  ?  "  cried  he. 

"  It  is  I,"  replied  a  weak  voice ;  "  I,  Gaston  de  Gan- 
delu." 

Andre  decided  that  he  had  no  cause  to  distrust  the 
lad,  and  so  he  opened  his  door. 

"  Has  M.  Andre  gone  out  ? "  asked  the  poor  boy 
faintly.    "  I  thought  I  heard  his  voice." 

Gaston  had  not  penetrated  his  disguise,  and  this  was 
Andre's  first  triumph;  but  he  saw  now  that  he  must 
alter  his  voice,  as  well  as  his  face. 

"  Don't  you  know  me  ?  "  asked  he. 

It  was  evident  that  young  Gaston  had  received  some 
terrible  shock;  for  it  could  not  have  been  the  quarrel 
in  the  morning  that  had  reduced  him  to  this  abject 
state  of  prostration. 

"  What  has  gone  wrong  with  you  ?  "  asked  Andre 
kindly. 


3i6         THE   CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

"  I  have  come  to  bid  you  farewell ;  I  am  going  to 
shoot  myself  in  half  an  hour." 

"  Have  you  gone  mad  ?  " 

"  Not  in  the  least,"  answered  Gaston,  passing  his 
hand  across  his  forehead  in  a  distracted  manner;  "but 
those  infernal  bills  have  turned  up.  I  was  just  leav- 
ing the  dining-room,  after  having  treated  the  gov- 
ernor to  my  company,  when  the  butler  whispered  in 
my  ear  that  there  was  a  man  outside  who  wanted  to 
see  me.  I  went  out  and  found  a  dirty-looking  old 
scamp,  with  his  coat  collar  turned  up  round  the  nape 
of  his  neck." 

"  Did  he  say  that  his  name  was  Tantaine  ? "  ex- 
claimed Andre. 

"Ah!  was  that  his  name?  Well,  it  doesn't  matter. 
He  told  me  in  the  most  friendly  manner  that  the  holder 
of  my  bills  had  determined  to  place  them  in  the  hands 
of  the  police  to-morrow  at  twelve  o'clock,  but  that 
there  was  still  a  way  for  me  to  escape." 

"  And  this  was  to  take  Rose  out  of  France  with 
you,"  said  Andre  quickly. 

Gaston  was  overwhelmed  with  surprise. 

"  Who  the  deuce  told  you  that  ?  "  asked  he. 

"  No  one ;  I  guessed  it ;  for  it  was  only  the  conclu- 
sion of  the  plan  which  they  had  initiated  when  you 
were  induced  to  forge  Martin  Rigal'^  signature.  Well, 
what  did  you  say  ?  " 

"  That  the  idea  was  a  ridiculous  one,  and  that  I 
would  not  stir  a  yard.  They  shall  find  out  that  I  can 
be  obstinate,  too;  besides,  I  can  see  their  little  game. 
As  soon  as  I  am  out  of  the  way  they  will  go  to  the 
governor  and  bleed  him." 

But  Andre  was  not  listening  to  him.  What  was 
best  to  be  done?    To  advise  Gaston  to  go  and  take 


M.    LECOQ  317 

Rose  with  him  was  to  deprive  himself  of  a  great  ele- 
ment of  success;  and  to  permit  him  to  kill  himself 
was,  of  course,  out  of  the  question. 

"  Just  attend  to  me,"  said  he  at  last ;  "  I  have  an 
idea  which  I  will  tell  you  as  soon  as  we  are  out  oi  this 
house ;  but  for  reasons  which  are  too  long  to  go  into 
at  present  it  is  necessary  for  me  to  get  into  the  street 
without  going  through  the  door.  You  will,  therefore, 
go  away,  and  as  the  clock  strikes  twelve  you  will  ring 
at  the  gateway  of  29,  Rue  de  Laval.  When  it  is 
opened,  ask  some  trivial  question  of  the  porter ;  and 
when  you  leave,  take  care  that  you  do  not  close  the 
gate.  I  shall  be  in  the  garden  of  the  house  and  will 
slip  out  and  join  you," 

The  plan  succeeded  admirably,  and  in  ten  minutes 
Gaston  and  Andre  were  walking  along  the  boulevards. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

M.     LECOQ. 

The  Marquis  de  Croisenois  lived  in  a  fine  new  house 
on  the  Boulevard  Malesherbes  near  the  church  of  St. 
Augustine,  and  in  a  suite  of  rooms  the  rental  of  which 
was  four  thousand  francs  per  annum.  He  had  col- 
lected together  sufficient  relics  of  his  former  splendor 
to  dazzle  the  eyes  of  the  superficial  observer.  The 
apartment  and  the  furniture  stood  in  the  name  of  his 
body-servant,  while  his  horse  and  brougham  were  by 
the  same  fiction  supposed  to  be  the  property  of  his 
coachman,  for  even  in  the  midst  of  his  ruin  the  Mar- 
quis de  Croisenois  could  not  go  on  foot  like  common 
people. 


3i8         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

The  Marquis  had  two  servants  only  in  his  modest 
establishment — a  coachman,  who  did  a  certain  amount 
of  indoor  work,  and  a  valet,  who  knew  enough  of 
cookery  to  prepare  a  bachelor  breakfast.  This  valet 
Mascarin  had  seen  once,  and  the  man  had  then  pro- 
duced so  unpleasant  an  impression  on  the  astute  pro- 
prietor of  the  Servants'  Registry  Office  that,  he  had 
set  every  means  at  work  to  discover  who  he  was  and 
from  whence  he  came.  Croisenois  said  that  he  had 
taken  him  into  his  service  on  the  recommendation  of 
an  English  baronet  of  his  acquaintance,  a  certain  Sir 
Richard  Wakefield.  The  man  was  a  Frenchman,  but 
he  had  resided  for  some  time  in  England,  for  he  spoke 
that  language  with  tolerable  fluency.  Andre  knew 
nothing  of  these  details,  but  he  had  heard  of  the  ex- 
istence of  the  valet  from  M.  de  Breulh,  when  he  had 
asked  where  the  Marquis  lived. 

At  eight  o'clock  on  the  morning  after  he  had  sur- 
reptitiously left  his  home  in  the  manner  described, 
Andre  took  up  his  position  in  a  small  wine-shop  not 
far  from  the  abode  of  the  Marquis  de  Croisenois.  He 
had  done  this  designedly,  for  he  knew  enough  of  the 
manner  and  customs  of  Parisian  society  to  know  that 
this  was  the  hour  usually  selected  by  domestics  in 
fashionable  quarters  to  come  out  for  a  gossip  while 
their  masters  were  still  in  bed.  Andre  had  more  con- 
fidence in  himself  than  heretofore,  for  he  had  suc- 
ceeded in  saving  Gaston ;  and  these  were  the  means  he 
had  employed.  After  much  trouble,  and  even  by  the 
use  of  threats,  he  had  pe^'suaded  the  boy  to  return  to 
his  father's  house.  He  had  gone  with  him ;  and  though 
it  was  two  in  the  morning,  he  had  not  hesitated  to 
arouse  M,  Gandelu,  senior,  and  tell  him  how  his  son 


M.   LECOQ  319 

had  been  led  on  to  commit  the  forgery,  and  how  he 
threatened  to  commit  suicide. 

The  poor  old  man  was  much  moved. 

"  Tell  him  to  come  to  me  at  once,"  said  he,  "  and 
let  him  know  that  we  two  will  save  him." 

Andre  had  not  far  to  go,  for  Gaston  was  waiting  in 
the  next  room  in  an  agony  of  suspense. 

As  soon  as  he  came  into  the  old  man's  presence  he 
fell  upon  his  knees,  with  many  promises  of  amend- 
ment for  the  future. 

"  I  do  not  believe,"  remarked  old  Gandelu,  "  that  these 
miscreants  will  venture  to  carry  their  threats  into  ex- 
ecution and  place  the  matter  in  the  hands  of  the  po- 
lice; but  for  all  that,  my  son  must  not  remain  in  a 
state  of  suspense.  I  will  file  a  complaint  against  the 
Mutual  Loan  Society  before  twelve  to-day,  and  we 
will  see  how  an  association  will  be  dealt  with  that  lends 
money  to  minors  and  urges  them  to  forge  signatures 
as  security.  It  will,  however,  be  as  well  for  my  son  to 
leave  for  Belgium  by  the  first  train  this  morning; 
but,  as  you  will  see,  he  will  not  remain  very  many 
days." 

Andre  remained  for  the  rest  of  the  hours  of  dark- 
ness at  the  kind  old  man's  house,  and  it  was  in 
Gaston's  room  that  he  renewed  his  "  make-up "  be- 
fore leaving.  The  future  looked  very  bright  to  him  as 
he  walked  gayly  up  the  Boulevard  Malesherbes.  The 
wine-shop  in  which  he  had  taken  up  his  position  was 
admirably  adapted  for  keeping  watch  on  De  Croise- 
nois,  for  he  could  not  avoid  seeing  all  who  came  in 
and  went  out  of  the  house ;  and  as  there  was  no  other 
wine-shop  in  the  neighborhood,  Andre  felt  sure  that  all 
the  servants  in  the  vicinity,  and  those  of  the  Marquis, 


320         THE    CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

of  course,  among  the  number,  would  come  there  in  the 
course  of  the  morning;  so  that  here  he  could  get  into 
conversation  with  them,  offer  them  a  glass  of  wine, 
and,  perhaps,  get  some  information  from  them.  The 
room  was  large  and  airy,  and  was  full  of  customers, 
most  of  whom  were  servants.  Andre  was  racking  his 
brain  for  a  means  of  getting  into  conversation  with 
the  proprietor,  when  two  new-comers  entered  the 
room.  These  men  were  in  full  livery,  while  all  the 
other  servants  had  on  morning  jackets.  As  soon  as 
they  entered,  an  old  man,  with  a  calm  expression  of 
face,  who  was  struggling  perseveringly  with  a  tough 
beefsteak  at  the  same  table  as  that  by  which  Andre 
was  seated,  observed, — 

"  Ah !  here  comes  the  De  Croisenois'  lot." 

"If  they  would  only  sit  here,"  thought  Andre, "  by 
the  side  of  this  fellow,  who  evidently  knows  them,  I 
could  hear  all  they  said." 

By  good  luck  they  did  so,  begging  that  they  might 
be  served  at  once,  as  they  were  in  a  tremendous 
hurry. 

"  What  is  the  haste  this  morning  ?  "  asked  the  old 
man  who  had  recognized  them. 

"  I  have  to  drive  the  master  to  his  office,  for  he  has 
one  now.  He  is  chairman  of  a  Copper  Mining  Com- 
pany, and  a  fine  thing  it  is,  too.  If  you  have  any 
money  laid  by,  M.  Benoit,  this  is  a  grand  chance  for 
you." 

Benoit  shook  his  head  gravely. 

"  All  is  not  gold  that  glitters,"  said  he  sententiously ; 
"  nor,  on  the  other  hand,  are  things  as  bad  as  they 
are  painted." 

Benoit  was  evidently  a  prudent  man,  and  was  not 
likely  to  commit  himself. 


M.    LECOQ  321 

"  But  if  your  master  is  going  out,  you,  M.  Mouret, 
will  be  free,  and  we  can  have  a  game  at  cards  to- 
gether." 

"  No,  sir,"  answered  the  valet. 

"  What  f  are  you  engaged  too  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  I  have  to  carry  a  bouquet  of  flowers  to  the 
young  lady  my  master  is  engaged  to.  I  have  seen  the 
young  lady ;  she  seems  to  be  rather  haughty." 

The  man,  who  wore  an  enormously  high  and  stiff 
collar,  was  absolutely  speaking  of  Sabine,  and  Andre 
could  have  twisted  his  neck  with  pleasure. 

"  Let  us  hope,"  remarked  the  coachman,  as  he  has- 
tily swallowed  his  breakfast,  "  that  the  Marquis  does 
not  intend  to  invest  his  wife's  dowry  in  this  new  ven- 
ture of  his." 

The  men  then  ceased  to  speak  of  their  master,  and 
began  to  busy  themselves  with  their  own  affairs,  and 
went  out  again  without  alluding  to  him  any  further, 
leaving  Andre  to  reflect  what  a  difficult  business  the 
detective  line  was. 

The  customers  looked  upon  him  with  distrustful 
eyes,  for  it  must  be  confessed  that  his  appearance  was 
decidedly  against  him,  and  he  had  not  yet  acquired  the 
necessary  art  of  seeing  and  hearing  while  affecting  to 
be  doing  neither;  and  it  was  easy  for  the  dullest  ob- 
server to  be  certain  that  it  was  not  for  the  sake  of  ob- 
taining a  breakfast  that  he  had  entered  the  establish- 
ment. Andre  had  penetration  enough  to  see  the  effect 
he  had  produced,  and  he  became  more  and  more  em- 
barrassed. He  had  finished  his  meal  now,  and  had 
lighted  a  cigar,  and  had  ordered  a  small  glass  of 
brandy.  Nearly  all  the  customers  had  withdrawn, 
leaving  only  five  or  six,  who  were  playing  cards  at  a 
table  near  the  door.    Andre  was  anxious  to  see  Croisc 


322         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

nois  enter  his  carriage,  and  so  he  hngered,  ordering 
another  glass  of  brandy  as  an  excuse. 

He  had  just  been  served,  when  a  man,  whose  dress 
very  much  resembled  his  own,  lounged  into  the  wine- 
shop. He  was  a  tall,  clumsily  built  fellow,  with  an  in- 
solent expression  upon  his  beardless  face.  His  coat 
and  cap  were  in  an  equally  dilapidated  condition ;  and 
in  the  squeaky  voice  of  the  rough,  he  ordered  a  plate 
of  beef  and  half  a  bottle  of  wine,  and,  as  he  brushed 
past  Andre,  upset  his  glass  of  brandy.  The  artist 
made  no  remark,  though  he  felt  quite  sure  that  this 
act  was  intentional,  as  the  fellow  laughed  impudently 
when  he  saw  the  damage  that  he  had  done.  When  his 
breakfast  was  served,  he  carelessly  spit  upon  Andre's 
boots.  The  insult  was  so  apparent  that  Andre  began  to 
reflect. 

"  Had  he  not  succeeded  in  eluding  his  spies,  as  he 
thought  that  he  had  done  ?  and  was  it  not  quite  possi- 
ble that  this  man  had  been  sent  to  pick  a  quarrel  with 
him,  and  deal  him  a  disabling,  or  even  a  fatal  blow  ?  " 

Prudence  counselled  him  to  leave  the  place  at  once, 
but  he  felt  that  he  could  not  go  until  he  had  found  out 
the  real  truth.  There  seemed  to  be  but  little  doubt  on 
the  matter,  however ;  for  as  the  fellow  cut  up  his  meat, 
he  jerked  every  bit  of  skin  and  gristle  into  his  neigh- 
bor's lap ;  then,  after  finishing  up  his  wine,  he  managed 
to  upset  the  few  drops  remaining  on  to  Andre's  arm 
and  shoulder.    This  was  the  finishing  stroke. 

"  Please,  remember,"  remarked  Andre  calmly,  "  that 
there  is  some  one  at  the  table  besides  yourself." 

"  Do  you  think  I'm  blind,  mate  ?  "  returned  the  fel- 
low brutally.     "  Mind   your  own   business,   or " 

And  to  conclude  the  sentence,  he  shook  his  fist  threat- 
eningly in  the  young  man's  face. 


M.   LECOQ  S23 

Andre  started  to  his  feet,  and,  with  a  well-directed 
blow  in  the  chest,  sent  the  fellow  rolling  under  the 
table. 

At  the  sound  of  the  scuffle,  the  card-players  turned 
round,  and  saw  Andre  standing-  erect,  with  quivering 
lips  and  eyes  flashing  with  rage,  while  his  antagonist 
was  lying  on  the  floor  among  the  overturned  chairs. 

"  Come,  come !  No  squabbling  here !  "  remarked 
one  of  the  players. 

The  fellow  scrambled  to  his  feet,  and  made  a  sav- 
age rush  at  the  young  man,  who,  using  his  right  foot 
skilfully,  tripped  his  antagonist  up,  and  sent  him  again 
rolling  on  the  ground.  It  was  most  adroitly  done,  and 
secured  the  applause  of  the  lookers-on,  who  now  com- 
plained no  longer,  and  were  evidently  interested  in  the 
scene. 

Again  the  rough  came  up,  but  Andre  contented  him- 
self with  standing  on  the  defensive.  Some  tables,  a 
stool,  and  a  glass  were  injured,  and  at  last  the  pro- 
prietor came  upon  the  scene  of  action. 

"  Get  out  of  this,"  cried  he,  "  and  take  care  that  I 
don't  see  your  faces  here  again." 

At  these  words,  the  rough  burst  out  into  a  torrent 
of  foul  language. 

"  Don't  put  up  with  his  cheek,"  said  one  of  the  cus- 
tomers ;  "  give  him  in  charge  at  once." 

Hardly,  however,  had  the  manager  started  to  sum- 
mon the  police,  than,  as  if  by  magic,  a  body  of  them 
appeared ;  and  Andre  found  himself  walking  down  the 
boulevard  between  a  couple,  while  his  late  antagonist 
followed  in  the  safe  custody  of  two  more.  To  have  at- 
tempted any  resistance  would  have  been  utter  folly, 
and  the  young  man  resigned  himself  to  what  he  felt 
he  could  not  help.    But  as  he  went  on,  he  reflected  on 


324         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

the  strange  scene  through  which  he  had  just  passed. 
All  had  gone  on  so  rapidly  that  he  could  hardly  recall 
the  events  to  his  memory.  He  was,  however,  quite 
sure  that  this  unprovoked  assault  concealed  some  mo- 
tive with  which  at  present  he  was  unacquainted. 

The  police  led  their  prisoners  through  the  doorway 
of  a  dingy-looking  old  house,  and  then  Andre  saw  that 
he  was  not  at  the  regular  police-station.  The  whole 
party  entered  an  office,  where  a  superintendent  and 
two  clerks  were  at  work.  The  ruffian  who  had  as- 
saulted Andre  changed  his  manner  directly  he  entered 
the  office;  he  threw  his  tattered  cap  upon  a  bench, 
passed  his  fingers  through  his  hair,  and  shook  hands 
with  the  superintendent ;  he  then  turned  to  Andre. 

"  Permit  me,  sir,"  said  he,  "  to  compliment  you  on 
being  so  handy  with  your  fists.  You  precious  nearly 
did  for  me,  I  can  tell  you." 

At  that  moment  a  door  opened  at  the  other  end  of 
the  room,  and  a  voice  was  heard  to  say,  "  Send  them 
in." 

Andre  and  his  late  antagonist  soon  found  them- 
selves in  an  office  evidently  sacred  to  some  one  high 
up  in  the  police.  At  a  desk  near  the  window  was 
seated  a  man,  with  a  rather  distinguished  air,  wearing 
a  white  necktie  and  a  pair  of  gold  glasses. 

"  Have  the  goodness  to  take  a  seat,"  said  this  gen- 
tleman, addressing  Andre  with  the  most  perfect  ur- 
banity. 

He  took  a  chair,  half  stupefied  by  the  strangeness  of 
the  whole  affair,  and  waited.  Could  he  be  awake,  or 
was  he  dreaming?     He  could  hardly  tell. 

"  Before  I  say  anything,"  remarked  the  gentleman 
in  the  gold  spectacles,  "  I  ought  to  apologize  for  a 
proceeding  which  is — well,  what  shall  I  call  it? — a  lit- 


M.   LECOQ  325 

tie  rough,  perhaps ;  but  it  was  necessary  to  make  use 
of  it  to  obtain  this  interview  with  you.  Really,  how- 
ever, I  had  no  choice.  You  are  closely  watched,  and 
I  did  not  wish  the  persons  who  had  set  spies  on  you 
to  have  any  knowledge  of  this  conference." 

"  Do  you  say  I  am  watched  ?  "  stammered  Andre. 

'*  Yes,  by  a  certain  La  Candele,  as  sharp  a  fellow  at 
that  kind  of  work  as  you  could  find  in  Paris.  Are  you 
surprised  at  this  ?  " 

"  Yes,  for  I  had  thought " 

The  gentleman's  features  softened  into  a  benevolent 
smile. 

"You  thought,"  he  said,  "  that  you  had  succeeded 
in  throwing  them  off  the  scent.  So  I  had  imagined 
this  morning,  when  I  saw  you  in  your  present  dis- 
guise. But  permit  me,  my  dear  M.  Andre,  to  assure 
you  that  there  is  great  room  for  improvement  in  it. 
I  admit  that  a  first  attempt  is  always  to  be  looked  on 
leniently ;  but  it  did  not  deceive  La  Candele,  and  even 
at  this  distance  I  can  plainly  see  your  whole  make- 
up ;  and  what  I  can  see,  of  course,  is  patent  to  others." 

He  rose  from  his  seat,  and  came  closer  to  Andre. 

"  Why  on  earth,"  asked  he,  "  should  you  daub  all 
this  color  on  your  face,  which  makes  you  look  like  an 
Indian  warrior  in  his  war-paint  ?  Only  two  colors  are 
necessary  to  change  the  whole  face — red  and  black — 
at  the  eyebrows,  the  nostrils,  and  the  corners  of  the 
mouth.  Look  here" ;  and  taking  from  his  pocket  a 
gold  pencil-case,  he  corrected  the  faults  in  the  young 
artist's  work. 

As  soon  as  he  had  finished,  Andre  went  up  to  the 
mirror  over  the  chimney-piece,  and  was  surprised  at 
the  result. 

"  Now,"  said  the  strange  gentleman,  "  you  see  the 


326         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

futility  of  your  attempts.  La  Candele  knew  you  at 
once.  I  wished  to  speak  to  you ;  so  I  sent  for  Palot, 
one  of  my  men,  and  instructed  him  to  pick  a  quarrel 
with  you.  The  policemen  arrested  you,  and  we  have 
met  without  any  one  being  at  all  the  wiser.  Be  kind 
enough  to  efface  my  little  corrections,  as  they  will  be 
noticed  in  the  street." 

Andre  obeyed,  and  as  he  rubbed  away  with  the  cor- 
ner of  his  handkerchief,  he  vainly  sought  for  some 
elucidation  of  this  mystery. 

The  man  with  the  gold  spectacles  had  resumed  his 
seat,  and  was  refreshing  himself  with  a  pinch  of 
snuff. 

"  And  now,"  resumed  he,  "  we  will,  if  you  please, 
have  a  little  talk  together.  As  you  see,  I  know  you. 
Doctor  Loulleux  tells  me  that  he  knows  no  one  so 
high-minded  and  amiable  as  yourself.  He  declares 
that  your  honor  is  without  a  stain,  and  your  courage 
undoubted." 

"  Ah !  my  dear  sir !  "  interposed  the  painter,  with  a 
<leep  blush. 

"  Pray  let  me  go  on.  M.  Gandelu  says  that  he  would 
trust  you  with  all  he  possessed,  while  all  your  com- 
rades, with  Vignol  at  their  head,  have  the  greatest 
respect  and  regard  for  you.  So  much  for  the  pres- 
ent. As  for  your  future,  two  of  the  greatest  orna- 
ments of  the  artistic  world  say  that  you  will  one  day 
occupy  a  very  high  place  in  the  profession.  You 
gain  now  about  fifteen  francs  a  day.    Am  I  correct  ?  " 

"  Certainly,"  answered  Andre,  more  bewildered  than 
ever. 

The  gentleman  smiled. 

"  Unfortunately,"  he  went  on,  "  my  information 
ends  here,  for  the  means  of  inquiry  possessed  by  the 


M.   LECOQ  327 

police  are,  of  course,  very  limited.  They  can  only 
act  upon  facts,  not  on  intentions,  and  so  long  as 
these  are  not  displayed  in  open  acts,  the  hands  of  the 
police  are  tied.  It  is  only  forty-eight  hours  since  I 
heard  of  you  for  the  first  time,  and  I  have  already  your 
biography  in  my  pocket.  I  hear  that  the  day  before 
yesterday  you  vi^ere  dining  with  M.  de  Breulh-Faver- 
lay,  and  that  this  morning  you  were  walking  with 
young  Gandelu,  and  that  La  Candele  was  following 
you  like  a  shadow.    These  are  all  facts,  but " 

He  paused,  and  cast  a  keen  glance  upon  Andre, 
then,  in  a  slow  and  measured  voice,  he  continued, — 

"  But  no  one  has  been  able  to  tell  me  why  you 
■dogged  Verminet's  footsteps,  or  why  you  went  to  Mas- 
•carin's  house,  or  why,  finally,  you  disguised  yourself 
to  keep  a  watch  on  the  movements  of  the  most  honor- 
able the  Marquis  de  Croisenois.  It  is  the  motive  that 
we  cannot  arrive  at,  for  the  facts  are  perfectly  clear."' 
•  Andre  fidgeted  uneasily  in  his  chair  beneath  the 
spell  of  those  magnetic  glasses,  which  seemed  to  draw 
the  truth  from  him. 

"  I  cannot  tell  you,  sir/'  faltered  he  at  last,  "  for 
the  secret  is  not  mine  to  divulge." 

"  You  will  not  trust  me?  Well,  then,  I  must  speak. 
Remember,  all  that  I  have  told  you  was  the  account 
■of  what  I  knew  positively;  but,  in  addition  to  this,  I 
have  drawn  my  own  inferences.  You  are  watching 
De  Croisenois  because  he  is  going  to  marry  a  wealthy 
lieiress," 

Andre  blushed  crimson. 

"  We  assume,  therefore,  that  you  wish  to  prevent 
this  marriage;  and  why,  pray?  I  have  heard  that 
Mademoiselle  de  Mussidan  was  formerly  engaged  to 
M,  de  Breulh-Faverlay.  How  comes  it  that  the  Count 


328         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

and  Countess  de  Mussidan  prefer  a  ruined  spendthrift 
to  a  wealthy  and  strictly  honorable  man  ?  It  is  for  you 
to  answer  this  question.  It  is  perfectly  plain  to  me 
that  they  hand  over  their  daughter  to  De  Croisenois 
under  pressure  of  some  kind,  and  that  means  that  a 
terrible  secret  exists  with  which  Croisenois  threatens 
them." 

"  Your  deduction  is  wrong,  sir,"  exclaimed  Andre 
eagerly,  "  and  you  are  quite  wrong." 

"  Very  good,"  was  the  calm  reply.  "  Your  em- 
phatic denial  shows  that  I  am  in  the  right.  I  want 
no  further  proofs.  M,  de  Mussidan  paid  you  a  visit 
yesterday,  and  one  of  my  agents  reported  that  his 
face  was  much  happier  on  leaving  you  than  when  he 
was  on  his  way  to  your  house.  I  therefore  infer  that 
you  promised  to  release  him  from  Croisenois'  per- 
secutions, and  in  return  he  promised  you  his  daugh- 
ter's hand  in  marriage.  This,  of  course,  explains  your 
present  disguise,  and  now  tell  me  again  that  I  am 
wrong,  if  you  dare." 

Andre  would  not  lie,  and  therefore  kept  silence. 

"  And  now,"  continued  the  gentleman,  "  how  about 
the  secret?  Did  not  the  Count  tell  it  you?  I  do  not 
know  it;  and  yet  I  think  that  if  I  v/ere  to  search  for 
it,  I  could  find  it.  I  can  call  to  my  mind  certain 
crimes  which  three  generations  of  detectives  have 
striven  to  find  out.  Did  you  ever  hear  that  De  Croise- 
nois had  an  elder  brother  named  George,  who  disap- 
peared in  a  most  wonderful  manner?  What  became 
of  him?  This  very  George,  twenty-three  years  back; 
was  a  friend  of  Madame  de  Mussidan's.  Might  not 
his  disappearance  have  something  to  do  with  this  mar- 
riage ?  " 


M.    LECOQ  329 

"  Are  you  the  fiend  himself  ?  '"  cried  the  young  man. 

"  I  am  M.  Lecoq." 

Andre  started  back  in  absolute  dread  at  the  name  of 
this  celebrated  detective. 

"  M.  Lecoq !  "  repeated  he. 

The  vanity  of  the  great  detective  was  much  flattered 
when  he  saw  the  impression  that  his  name  had  pro- 
duced. 

"  And  now,  my  dear  M.  Andre,"  said  he  blandly, 
"now  that  you  know  who  I  am,  may  I  not  hope  that 
you  will  be  more  communicative  ?  " 

M.  de  Mussidan  had  not  told  his  secret  to  the  young 
artist,  but  he  had  said  enough  for  him  to  feel  that  the 
detective  was  correct  in  his  inference. 

"  Surely,"  continued  Lecoq,  "  we  ought  to  be  able 
to  come  to  a  more  definite  understanding,  and  I  think 
that  my  openness  should  elicit  some  frankness  on  your 
side.  I  saw  that  you  were  watched  by  the  very  per- 
son that  I  was  watching.  For  three  days  my  men 
have  followed  you,  and  to-day  I  made  up  my  mind  that 
you  could  furnish  me  with  the  clue  I  am  seeking." 

"I,  sir?" 

"  For  many  years,"  continued  Lecoq,  "  I  have  been 
certain  that  an  organized  association  of  blackmailers 
exists  in  Paris ;  family  differences,  sin,  shame,  and  sor- 
row are  worked  by  these  wretches  like  veritable  gold 
mines,  and  bring  them  in  enormous  annual  revenues." 

"  Ah,"  returned  Andre,  "  I  expected  something  of 
this  kind." 

"  Of  course,  when  I  was  quite  sure  of  these  facts," 
continued  Lecoq,  "  I  said  to  myself,  '  I  will  break  up 
this  gang ' ;  but  it  was  easier  said  than  done.  There 
is  one  very  peculiar  thing  about  blackmailing.    Those 


330         THE   CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

who  carry  it  on  are  almost  certain  of  doing  so  with  im- 
punity, for  the  victims  will  pay  and  not  complain.  Yes, 
I  tell  you  that  I  have  often  found  out  these  unhappy 
pigeons,  but  never  colild  get  one  to  speak." 

The  detective  was  so  indignant  and  acrimonious 
withal  in  his  indignation,  that  Andre  could  not  repress 
a  smile. 

"  Very  soon,"  continued  Lecoq,  "  I  recognized  the 
futility  of  my  attempts,  and  the  impossibility  of  reach- 
ing these  scoundrels  through  their  victims,  and  then  I 
determined  to  strike  at  the  plunderers  themselves,  but 
this  was  a  scheme  that  took  patience  and  time.  I  have 
waited  my  chance  for  three  years,  and  for  eighteen 
months  one  of  my  men  has  been  in  the  service  of  the 
Marquis  de  Croisenois,  and  up  to  now  this  band  of 
villains  has  cost  the  government  over  ten  thousand 
francs.  That  superlative  scoundrel,  Mascarin,  has  put 
several  white  threads  in  my  hair.  I  believe  him  to  be 
Tantaine;  yes,  and  Martin  Rigal  too.  The  idea  of 
there  being  a  means  of  communication  between  the 
banker's  house  in  the  Rue  Montmartre  and  the  Serv- 
ants' Registry  Office  in  the  Rue  Montorgueil  only  came 
into  my  head  this  morning.  But  this  time  they  have 
gone  too  far,  and  I  have  them.  The  idea  of  a  Limited 
Company,  the  shares  of  which  are  to  be  taken  up  by 
their  victims,  is  not  at  all  a  bad  one.  I  know  them  all, 
from  the  chief,  Mascarin-Tantaine-Rigal,  down  to  their 
lowest  agent,  Toto  Chupin,  and  Paul  Violaine,  the  do- 
cile puppet  of  their  will.  We  will  get  hold  of  the 
whole  gang,  and  neither  Van  Klopen  nor  Catenae  will 
escape.  Just  now  the  latter  is  travelling  about  with 
the  Duke  de  Champdoce  and  a  fellow  named  Perpi- 
gnan,  and  two  of  my  sweet  lads  are  close  upon  them, 
and  send  in  almost  hourly  reports  of  what  is  going 


M.   LECOQ  331 

on.  My  trap  has  a  tempting  bait,  the  spring  is  strong, 
and  we  shall  catch  every  one  of  them.  And  now  do 
you  still  hesitate  to  confide  all  you  know  to  me?  I 
swear  on  my  honor  that  I  will  respect  as  sacred  what 
you  tell  me,  no  matter  what  may  occur." 

Andre  yielded,  as  did  every  person  who  came  under 
the  influence  of  this  remarkable  man  and  his  strange 
and  inexplicable  fascination.  If  he  hid  anything  from 
him  to-day,  would  not  Lecoq  be  acquainted  with  it  to- 
morrow? and  so,  with  the  most  perfect  frankness,  he 
told  his  story  and  everything  that  he  knew. 

"  Now,"  cried  Lecoq,  "  I  see  it  all  clearly.  Aha, 
they  want  to  force  young  Gandelu  to  disappear  with 
Rose,  do  they  ?  " 

Beneath  his  gold-rimmed  spectacles  his  eyes  flashed 
fiercely.  He  seemed  to  be  occupied  in  drawing  out  his 
plan  of  campaign. 

"  From  this  moment,"  said  he,  "  be  at  ease.  In  an- 
other month  Mademoiselle  de  Mussidan  shall  be  your 
wife;  this  I  promise  you,  and  the  promises  of  Lecoq 
are  never  broken." 

He  paused  for  an  instant,  as  though  to  collect  his 
thoughts,  and  then  continued, — 

"  I  can  answer  for  all,  except  for  your  life.  So 
many  are  interested  in  your  disappearance  from  this 
world,  that  every  effort  will  be  made  to  get  rid  of  you. 
Do  not  cease  your  caution  for  an  instant.  Never  eat 
twice  running  at  the  same  restaurant,  throw  away 
food  that  has  the  slightest  strange  taste.  Avoid 
crowds  in  the  street ;  do  not  get  into  a  cab ;  never  lean 
from  a  window  before  ascertaining  that  its  supports 
are  solid ;  in  a  word,  fear  and  suspect  everything." 

For  a  moment  longer  Lecoq  detained  the  young 
artist. 


332         THE    CHAMPDOCE   IMYSTERY 

"  Tell  me,"  said  he,  "  have  you  the  mark  of  a  wound 
on  your  shoulder  or  arm  ?  " 

"■  I  have,  sir;  the  scar  of  a  very  severe  scald." 

"  I  thought  so ;  yes,  I  was  almost  certain  of  it,"  said 
Lecoq  thoughtfully;  and  as  he  conducted  the  young 
man  to  the  door,  he  took  leave  of  him  with  the  same 
words  that  Mascarin  had  often  used  to  Paul, — 

"  Farewell  for  the  present,  Duke  de  Champdoce." 


CHAPTER    XXXHI. 


THROUGH    THE  AIR. 


At  these  last  words  Andre  turned  round,  but  the 
door  closed,  and  he  heard  the  key  grate  in  the  lock.  He 
passed  through  the  outer  office,  where  the  superin- 
tendent, his  two  clerks,  and  his  late  adversary  all 
seemed  to  gaze  upon  him  with  a  glance  of  admiration 
and  esteem. 

He  gained  the  open  street. 

What  did  those  last  words  of  Lecoq  mean  ?  He  was 
a  foundling,  it  is  true ;  but  what  foundling  has  not  had 
lofty  aspirations,  and  felt  that,  for  all  he  knew,  he 
might  be  the  scion  of  some  noble  house. 

As  soon  as  Lecoq  thought  that  the  coast  was  clear, 
he  opened  the  door,  and  called  the  agent,  Palot. 

'*  My  lad,"  said  the  great  man,  "  you  saw  that  young 
man  who  went  out  just  now?  He  is  a  noble  fellow, 
full  of  good  feeling  and  honor.  I  look  upon  him  as  my 
friend." 

Palot  made  a  gesture  signifying  that  henceforth  his 
late  antagonist  was  as  something  sacred  in  his  eyes. 


THROUGH    THE   AIR  333 

"  You  will  be  his  shadow,"  pursued  Lecoq,  "  and 
keep  near  enough  to  iiim  to  rush  to  his  aid  at  a  mo- 
ment of  danger.  That  gang,  of  which  Mascarin  is  the 
head,  want  his  life.  You  are  my  right-hand  man,  and 
I  trust  him  to  you.  I  have  warned  him,  but  youth  is 
rash ;  and  you  will  scent  danger  where  he  would  never 
dream  that  it  lurked.  If  there  is  any  peril,  dash  boldly 
forward,  but  endeavor  to  let  no  one  find  out  who  you 
are.  If  you  must  speak  to  him — but  only  do  so  at  the 
last  extremity — ^whisper  my  name  in  his  ear,  and  he 
will  know  you  have  come  from  me.  Remember,  you 
are  answerable  for  him;  but  change  your  face.  La 
Candele  and  the  others  must  not  recognize  in  you  the 
wine-shop  bully ;  that  would  spoil  all.  What  have  you 
on  under  that  blouse,  a  commissionaire's  dress  ? 

"  That  will  do ;  now  change  the  face." 

Palot  pulled  out  a  small  parcel  from  his  pocket,  from 
which  he  extracted  a  red  beard  and  wig,  and,  going  to 
the  mirror,  adjusted  them  with  dexterous  activity; 
and,  in  a  few  minutes,  went  up  to  his  master,  who  was 
waiting,  saying, — 

"How  will  this  do?" 

"  Not  bad,  not  bad,"  returned  Lecoq ;  "  and  now  to 
your  work." 

"  Where  shall  I  find  him?  "  asked  Palot. 

"  Somewhere  near  Mascarin's  den,  for  I  advised  him 
not  to  give  up  playing  the  spy  too  suddenly." 

Palot  was  off  like  the  wind,  and  when  he  reached 
the  Rue  Montmartre,  he  caught  sight  of  the  person 
who  had  been  intrusted  to  his  care. 

Andre  was  walking  slowly  along,  thinking  of  Le- 
coq's  cautions,  when  a  young  man,  with  his  arm  in  a 
sling,  overtook  him,  going  in  the  same  direction  as  he 
was.     Andre  was  sure  that  it  was  Paul,  and  as  he 


334         THE   CHA^^IPDOCE   MYSTERY 

knew  that  he  could  not  be  recognized,  he  passed  him  in 
his  turn,  and  saw  that  it  was  indeed  the  Paul  so  much 
regretted  by  Zora. 

"  I  will  find  out  where  he  goes  to,"  thought  Andre. 

He  followed,  and  saw  him  enter  the  house  of  M.  Ri- 
gal.  Two  women  were  gossiping  near  the  door,  and 
Andre  heard  one  of  them  say, — 

"  That  is  the  young  fellow  who  is  going  to  marry 
Flavia,  the  banker's  daughter." 

Paul,  therefore,  was  to  marry  the  daughter  of  the 
chief  of  the  gang.  Should  he  tell  Lecoq  this?  But, 
of  course,  the  detective  knew  it. 

Time  was  passing,  and  Andre  felt  that  he  had  but 
little  space  to  gain  the  house  that  Gandelu  was  building 
in  the  Champs  Elysees,  if  he  wished  to  ask  hospitality 
from  his  friend  Vignol. 

He  found  all  the  workmen  there,  and  not  one  of 
them  recognized  him  when  he  asked  for  Vignol. 

*'  He  is  engaged  up  there,"  said  one.  "  Take  the 
staircase  to  the  left." 

The  chief  part  of  the  ornamental  work  was  in  front, 
and  it  was  there  that  the  little  hut  which  Tantaine  had 
pointed  out  to  Toto  Chupin  was  erected.  Vignol  was 
in  it,  and  was  utterly  surprised  when  Andre  made  him- 
self known,  for  he  did  not  recognize  him  under  his 
strange  disguise. 

"  It  is  nothing,"  returned  the  young  man  cautiously, 
as  Vignol  paused  for  an  explanation ;  "  only  a  little 
love  affair." 

"  Do  you  expect  to  win  a  girl's  heart  by  making 
such  a  guy  of  yourself  ?"  asked  his  friend  with  a 
laugh. 

"  Hush !  I  will  explain  matters  later  on.  Can  you 
give  me  shelter  for  a  night  or  two  ?  " 


THROUGH    THE   AIR  335 

He  stopped  himself,  turned  terribly  pale,  and 
listened  intently.  He  fancied  he  had  heard  a  woman's 
scream,  and  his  own  name  uttered. 

"  Andre,  it  is  I — your  Sabine ;  help !  " 

Quick  as  lightning  Andre  rushed  to  the  window, 
opened  it,  and  leaned  out  to  discover  from  whence 
those  sounds  came. 

The  young  miscreant,  Toto  Chupin,  had  too  fatally 
earned  the  note  with  which  Tantaine  had  bribed  him. 
The  whole  of  the  front  of  the  window  gave  way  with 
a  loud  crash,  and  Andre  was  hurled  into  space. 

The  hut  was  at  least  sixty  feet  from  the  pavement, 
and  the  fall  was  the  more  appalling  because  the  body 
of  Andre  struck  some  of  the  intervening  scaffolding 
first,  and  thence  bounded  off,  until  the  unhappy  young 
man  fell  with  a  dull  thud,  bleeding  and  senseless  in  the 
street. 

Nearly  three  hundred  persons  in  the  Champs  Elysees 
witnessed  this  hideous  sight ;  for,  at  Vignol's  cry,  every 
one  had  stopped,  and,  frozen  with  horror,  had  not 
missed  one  detail  of  the  grim  tragedy. 

In  an  instant  a  crowd  was  collected  round  the  poor, 
inert  mass  of  humanity  which  lay  motionless  in  a  pool 
of  blood.  But  two  workmen,  roused  by  Vignol's 
shrieks,  were  soon  on  the  spot,  and  pushed  their  way 
through  the  crowd  of  persons  who  were  gazing  with  a 
morbid  curiosity  on  the  man  who  had  fallen  from  a 
height  of  sixty  feet. 

Andre  gave  no  sign  of  life.  His  face  was  dreadfully 
bruised,  his  eyes  were  closed,  and  a  stream  of  blood 
poured  from  his  mouth,  as  Vignol  raised  his  friend's 
head  upon  his  knee. 

"  He  is  dead !  "  cried  the  lookers  on.  "  No  one  could 
survive  such  a  fall." 


336         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

"Let  us  take  him  to  the  Hospital  Beaujon!"  ex- 
claimed Vignol.     "  We  are  close  by  there." 

An  ambulance  was  speedily  procured,  and  the  work- 
men, placing  their  insensible  friend  carefully  in  it, 
asked  permission  to  carry  him  to  the  hospital. 

One  curious  event  had  excited  the  attention  of  some 
of  the  lookers  on.  Just  as  Andre  fell,  a  commissaire 
had  rushed  forward  and  seized  a  woman.  She  was 
one  of  the  class  of  unfortunates  who  frequent  the 
Champs  Elysees,  and  she  it  was  who  had  uttered  the 
cry  that  had  lured  Andre  to  destruction.  The  woman 
made  an  effort  to  escape,  but  Palot,  for  it  was  he, 
caught  her  arm. 

"  Not  a  word,"  said  he  sternly.  The  wretched  crea- 
ture seemed  in  abject  terror,  and  obeyed  him. 

"  Why  did  you  cry  out  ?  "  asked  he. 

"  I  do  not  know." 

"  It  is  a  lie !  " 

"  No,  it  is  true ;  a  gentleman  came  up  to  me,  and 
said,  '  Madame,  if  you  will  cry  out  now,  Andre,  it  is 
I — your  Sabine ;  help !  I  will  give  you  two  louis.'  Of 
course  I  agreed.  He  gave  me  the  fifty  francs,  and  I 
did  as  he  asked  me." 

"  What  was  this  man  like  ?  " 

"  He  was  tall,  old,  and  very  shabby  and  dirty,  with 
glasses  on.    I  never  set  eyes  on  him  before." 

"  Do  you  know,"  returned  the  commissaire  sternly, 
"  that  the  words  you  have  uttered  have  caused  the 
death  of  the  poor  fellow  who  has  just  fallen  from 
the  house  ?  " 

"  Why  did  he  not  take  more  care  ?  "  asked  she  in- 
differently. 

Palot,  with  an  angry  gesture,  handed  her  over  to  a 
police-constable. 


THROUGH    THE   AIR  337 

"  Take  her  to  the  station-house,"  said  he,  "  and  do 
not  lose  sight  of  her,  for  she  will  be  a  most  important 
witness  at  a  trial  that  must  soon  come  on." 

*'  What  the  woman  says  is  true,"  muttered  Palot. 
"  She  did  not  know  what  she  wAs  doing,  and  it  was 
Tantaine  that  gave  her  the  two  coins.  He  shall  pay 
for  this ;  but  certainly,  if  the  whole  gang  are  collared, 
it  won't  bring  the  poor  young  fellow  to  life." 

He  had,  however,  not  much  time  for  reflection,  for 
he  had  to  gather  up  every  link  of  evidence.  How  was 
it  that  this  accident  had  occurred  ?  The  frame  of  the 
window  had  fallen  out  with  Andre,  and  lay  in  frag- 
ments on  the  pavement.  He  picked  up  one  of  the 
pieces,  and  at  once  saw  what  had  been  done ;  the  wood- 
work had  been  sawed  almost  in  two,  and  the  putty  with 
which  the  marks  of  the  cuts  had  been  concealed  still 
clung  to  the  wood.  Palot  called  one  of  the  workmen, 
who  appeared  to  be  more  intelligent  than  his  fellows, 
pointed  out  the  marks  to  him,  and  bade  him  gather  up 
the  fragments  and  put  them  in  some  place  of  security. 
This  duty  being  accomplished,  Palot  joined  the  crowd; 
but  he  was  too  late,  for  Andre  had  been  taken  away 
to  the  hospital.  He  looked  around  to  see  if  there  was 
any  one  from  whom  he  could  gain  information,  and 
suddenly  perceived  on  a  bench  some  one  whom  he  had 
often  followed.  It  was  Toto  Chupin,  no  longer  clad  in 
the  squalid  rags  of  a  day  or  two  back.  He  was  dressed 
in  gorgeous  array,  but  his  face  was  livid,  his  eyes  wild, 
and  his  lips  kept  moving  convulsively,  for  he  was  a 
victim  to  a  novel  sensation — the  pangs  of  remorse — 
and  was  meditating  whether  he  should  not  go  to  the 
nearest  police-station  and  give  himself  up,  so  that  he 
might  revenge  hmiself  on  Tantaine,  who  had  made 
him  a  murderer.     For  a  moment  the  idea  of  arresting 


338         THE   CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

Toto  passed  through  Palot's  mind,  but  he,  after  a  mo- 
ment's thought,  muttered, — 

"  No ;  that  would  never  do.  We  should  risk  losing 
the  whole  gang.  Besides,  he  can't  get  away.  I  may 
even  have  committed  an  error  in  arresting  that  woman. 
My  master  will  say  that  I  am  not  to  be  trusted.  He 
placed  one  of  his  friends  in  my  charge,  and  this  is  what 
has  happened.  I  knew  that  the  young  man's  life  was 
in  deadly  peril,  and  yet  I  let  him  enter  a  house  in  the 
course  of  erection;  why,  I  might  as  well  have  cut  his 
throat  myself." 

In  a  terrible  state  of  anxiety,  Palot  presented  himself 
at  the  hospital,  and  asked  for  the  young  man  who  had 
just  been  brought  in. 

"You  mean  Number  17?"  returned  one  of  the  as- 
sistant-surgeons. "  He  is  in  a  most  critical  state ;  we 
fear  internal  injuries,  fracture  of  the  skull,  and — in 
fact,  we  fear  everything." 

It  was  two  days  before  Andre  recovered  conscious- 
ness. It  was  midnight  when  he  first  woke  again  to 
the  realities  of  life.  At  a  glance  he  guessed  where  he 
was.  He  felt  pain  when  he  endeavored  to  turn  over, 
but  he  could  move  his  legs  and  one  arm. 

"  How  long  have  I  been  here,  I  wonder  ? "  he 
thought. 

He  tried  to  think,  but  he  was  weak,  and  thoughts 
would  not  come  at  his  command,  and  in  a  few  seconds 
he  dropped  off  to  sleep  again ;  and  when  he  awoke,  it 
was  broad  day;  the  ward  was  full  of  life  and  motion, 
for  it  was  the  hour  of  the  house  surgeon's  visit.  He 
was  a  young  man  still,  with  a  cheerful  face,  followed 
by  the  band  of  students.  He  went  from  bed  to  bed, 
explaining  cases,  and  cheering  up  the  sufferers.  When 
Andre's   turn   came,   the   surgeon   told   him   that   his 


THROUGH    THE   AIR  339 

shoulder  was  put  out,  his  arm  broken  in  two  places,  a 
bad  cut  on  his  head,  while  his  body  was  one  mass  of 
bruises;  but,  for  all  that,  he  was  in  luck  to  have  got 
oif  so  easily.  Andre  listened  to  him  with  but  a  vague 
understanding  of  his  meaning,  for,  with  the  return  of 
reason,  the  remembrance  of  Sabine  had  come,  and  he 
asked  himself  what  would  become  of  her  while  he  was 
confined  to  his  bed  in  the  hospital.  As  this  thought 
passed  through  his  mind,  he  uttered  a  faint  groan.  One 
of  the  students,  a  stout  person,  with  red  whiskers,  a 
white  tie,  and  a  rather  shabby  hat,  who  looked  as  if  he 
had  just  arrived  from  the  country,  stepped  up  to  his 
bed,  and  leaning  over  the  patient,  murmured,  "  Lecoq." 
Andre  opened  his  eyes  wide  at  the  name. 

"  M.  Lecoq,"  gasped  he,  wondering  at  the  excellence 
of  the  disguise. 

"  Hush,  who  knows  who  is  watching  us  ?  I  come  to 
give  your  mind  ease,  which  will  do  you  more  good  than 
all  the  doctor's  stuff.  Without  in  any  way  committing 
you,  I  have  seen  M.  de  Mussidan,  and  have  furnished 
him  with  a  valid  excuse  for  postponing  his  daughter's 
marriage  for  another  month.  You  must  remain  here ; 
you  could  not  be  in  a  place  of  greater  security;  but 
even  here  you  cannot  be  too  cautious.  Eat  nothing 
that  is  not  given  you  by  some  one  who  utters  the  word 
*  Lecoq.'  M.  Gandelu  will  certainly  call  to  see  you.  If 
you  want  to  see  or  write  to  me,  the  patient  on  your 
right  will  manage  that;  he  is  one  of  my  men.  You 
shall  have  news  every  day ;  but  be  patient  and  prudent." 

"  I  can  wait  now,"  answered  the  young  man,  "  be- 
cause I  have  hope." 

"  Ah,"  murmured  Lecoq,  as  he  moved  softly  away, 
**  is  not  hope  the  true  secret  of  life  and  happiness?  " 


340         THE   CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 
CHAPTER   XXXIV. 

THE  DAY  OF  RECKONING. 

M.  Lecoq  enjoined  prudence  and  caution  on  Andre, 
and  the  utmost  care  on  the  'part  of  his  agents,  because 
he  was  fully  aware  of  the  skill  and  cunning  of  the  ad- 
versary with  whom  he  had  to  cope. 

"  You  should  not  talk  or  make  a  noise,"  he  would 
say,  "  when  you  are  fighting." 

He  could  now  prove  that  the  head  of  this  association, 
the  man  who  concealed  his  identity  under  a  threefold 
personality,  was  the  instigator  of  a  murder.  But  he 
did  not  intend  to  make  use  of  this  discovery  at  once, 
for  he  had  sworn  that  he  would  take  the  whole  gang, 
and  his  proceedings  had  been  so  carefully  conducted 
that  his  victims  did  not  for  a  moment  suspect  the  net 
that  was  closing  around  them.  The  day  after  the  acci- 
dent to  Andre,  Mascarin  sent  an  anonymous  communi- 
cation to  the  head  of  the  police,  giving  up  Toto  as  the 
author  of  the  crime,  and  saying  where  he  could  be 
found. 

"  Of  course,"  thought  this  wily  plotter,  "  Toto  will 
denounce  Tantaine,  but  that  worthy  man  is  dead  and 
buried,  and  I  think  that  even  the  sharpest  agents  of  the 
police  will  be  unable  to  effect  his  resurrection." 

Mascarin  had  carefully  consumed  in  a  large  fire 
every  particle  of  the  tattered  garments  that  Tantaine 
had  been  in  the  habit  of  wearing,  and  laughed  merrily 
as  he  watched  the  columns  of  sombre  smoke  roll 
upwards. 

"  Look  for  him  as  much  as  you  please,"  laughed  he. 
"  Old  Daddy  Tantaine  has  flown  up  the  chimney." 


THE   DAY   OF   RECKONING  341 

The  next  business  was  to  suppress  Mascarin ;  this 
was  a  more  difficult  operation.  Few  would  care  to  in- 
quire about  Tantaine,  but  Mascarin  was  well  known  as 
the  head  of  a  prosperous  business ;  his  disappearance 
would  create  a  sensation,  and  the  police  would  take 
up  the  matter.  His  best  course  would  be  to  conduct 
matters  openly,  and  sell  his  business  on  the  plea  of 
family  affairs  causing  him  to  retire.  He  easily  found 
a  purchaser,  and  in  twenty-four  hours  the  matter  had 
been  arranged. 

The  night  before  handing  over  the  business  to  his 
successor  Mascarin  had  much  to  do.  Assisted  by  Beau- 
marchef,  he  carried  into  Martin  Rigal's  private  office 
the  papers  with  which  the  Registry  Office  was 
crammed.  This  removal  w^as  effected  by  means  of  a 
door  marked  by  a  panel  between  Mascarin 's  office  and 
the  banker's  private  room ;  and  when  the  last  scrap  of 
paper  had  been  removed,  Mascarin  pointed  out  a  heap 
of  bricks  and  a  supply  of  mortar  to  his  faithful  ad- 
herent. 

"  Wall  up  this  door,"  said  he. 

It  was  a  long  and  wearisome  task,  but  it  was  at 
length  completed,  and  by  rubbing  soot  and  dust  over 
the  new  work  it  lost  its  appearance  of  freshness.  The 
evening  before  Beaumarchef  had  received  twelve  thou- 
sand francs  on  the  express  condition  that  he  would 
start  at  once  for  America,  and  the  leave-taking  be- 
tween him  and  the  master  he  had  so  faithfully  served 
was  a  most  affecting  one.  He  knew  hardly  anything 
of  the  diabolical  plots  going  on  around  him,  and  was 
the  only  innocent  person  in  that  house  of  crime. 

Mascarin  was  in  haste  to  depart ;  he  had  annihilated 
Tantaine  in  order  to  free  himself  from  Toto.  Mas- 
carin was  about  to  disappear,  and  he  contemplated  re- 


342         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

taining  his  third  personality,  and  in  it  to  pass  away 
the  remainder  of  his  life  honored  and  respected;  but 
he  must  first  induct  his  successor  into  his  business; 
and  he  went  through  the  books  with  him,  and  explained 
all  the  practical  working  of  the  machinery.  This  took 
him  nearly  all  day,  and  it  was  getting  late  when  his 
luggage  was  put  on  a  cab  which  he  had  in  waiting. 
A  new  plate  had  already  been  placed  on  the  door: 
"  J.  Robinet,  late  B.  Mascarin." 

Knowing  that  he  must  carry  out  the  deception  com- 
pletely, Mascarin  drove  to  the  western  railway  station, 
and  took  a  ticket  for  Rouen.  He  felt  rather  uncom- 
fortable, for  he  feared  that  he  was  being  watched,  and 
he  made  up  his  mind  not  to  leave  a  single  trace  behind 
him.  At  Rouen  he  abandoned  his  luggage,  which  he 
had  taken  care  should  afford  no  clue  as  to  ownership, 
he  also  relinquished  his  beard  and  spectacles,  and  re- 
turned to  Paris  as  the  well-known  banker,  Martin  Ri- 
gal,  the  pretty  Flavia's  father,  having,  as  he  thought, 
obliterated  Mascarin  as  completely  as  he  had  done 
Tantaine ;  but  he  had  not  noticed  in  the  train  with  him 
a  very  dark  young  man  with  piercing  eyes,  who  looked 
like  the  traveller  of  some  respectable  commercial  firm. 
As  soon  as  he  reached  his  home,  and  had  tenderly  em- 
braced his  daughter,  he  went  to  the  private  room  of 
Martin  Rigal,  and  opened  it  with  the  key  that  never 
left  his  person,  and  then  gazed  at  a  large  rough  mass 
of  brickwork  which  disfigured  one  side  of  the  room, 
and  which  was  the  remains  of  the  wall  that  erewhile 
had  been  so  hastily  erected  in  the  Office  of  the  Serv- 
ants' Registry. 

"  This  won't  do,"  muttered  he ;  "  it  must  be  plas- 
tered, and  then  repapered." 

He  picked  up  the  bits  of  brick  and  plaster  that  lay 


THE   DAY   OF   RECKONING  343 

on  the  floor,  and  threw  them  into  the  fire,  and  then 
pushed  a  large  screen  in  front  of  the  rough  brickwork. 
He  had  just  finished  his  work  when  Hortebise  entered 
the  room,  with  his  perpetually  smiling  face. 

"  Now,  you  unbeliever,"  cried  Mascarin  gaily,  "  is 
not  fortune  within  our  grasp  ?  Tantaine  and  Mascarin 
are  dead,  or  rather,  they  never  existed.  Beaumarchef 
is  on  his  way  to  America,  La  Candele  will  be  in  Lon- 
don in  a  week,  and  now  we  may  enjoy  our  millions." 

"  Heaven  grant  it,"  said  the  doctor  piously. 

"  Pooh,  pooh !  we  have  nothing  more  to  fear,  as  you 
would  have  known  had  you  gone  into  the  case  as  thor- 
oughly as  I  have  done.  Who  was  the  enemy  whom  we 
had  most  need  to  dread  ?  Why,  Andre.  He  certainly 
is  not  dead,  but  he  is  laid  up  for  some  weeks,  and  that 
is  enough.  Besides,  he  has  given  up  the  game,  for 
one  of  my  men  who  managed  to  get  into  the  hospital 
says  that  he  has  not  received  a  visitor  or  dispatched  a 
letter  for  the  last  fifteen  days." 

"  But  he  had  friends." 

"  Pshaw  !  friends  always  forget  you !  Why,  where 
was  M.  de  Breulh-Faverlay  ?  " 

"  It  is  the  racing  season,  and  he  is  a  fixture  in  his 
stables." 

"  Madame  de  Bois  Arden  ?  " 

"  The  new  fashions  are  sufficient  for  her  giddy 
head." 

"M.  Gandelu?" 

"  He  has  his  son's  affairs  to  look  after  and  there  is 
no  one  else  of  any  consequence." 

"  And  how  about  young  Gandelu  ?  " 

'*  Oh !  he  has  yielded  to  Tantaine's  winning  power, 
and  has  made  it  up  with  Rose,  and  the  turtle  doves 
have  taken  wing  for  Florence." 


344         THE    CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

But  the  doctor  was  still  dissatisfied, 

"  I  am  uneasy  about  the  Mussidans,"  said  he. 

"  And  pray  why  ?  De  Croisenois  has  been  very  well 
received.  I  don't  say  that  Mademoiselle  Sabine  has 
exactly  jumped  into  his  arms,  but  she  thanks  him 
every  evening  for  the  flowers  he  sends  in  the  morning, 
and  you  can't  expect  more  than  that." 

"  I  wish  the  Count  had  not  put  off  the  marriage. 
Why  did  he  do  so?" 

"  It  annoys  me,  too ;  but  we  can't  have  everything ; 
set  your  mind  at  rest." 

By  this  time  the  banker  had  contrived  to  reassure 
the  doctor. 

"  Besides,"  he  added,  "  everything  is  going  on  well, 
even  our  Tafila  mines.  I  have  taxed  our  people,  ac- 
cording to  their  means,  from  one  to  twenty  thousand 
francs,  and  we  are  certain  of  a  million." 

The  doctor  rubbed  his  hands,  and  a  delicious  pros- 
pect of  enjoyments  stretched  out  before  him. 

"  I  have  seen  Catenae,"  continued  Martin  Rigal. 
"  He  has  returned  from  Vendome,  and  the  Duke  de 
Champdoce  is  wild  with  hope  and  expectation,  and  is 
on  the  path  which  he  thinks  will  take  him  to  his  son." 

"  And  how  about  Perpignan  ?  " 

Mascarin  laughed. 

"  Perpignan  is  just  as  much  a  dupe  as  the  Duke  is ; 
he  thinks  absolutely  that  he  has  discovered  all  the 
clues  that  I  myself  placed  on  his  road.  Before,  how- 
ever, they  have  quite  concluded  their  investigations, 
Paul  will  be  my  daughter's  husband  and  Flavia  the 
future  Duchess  of  Champdoce,  with  an  income  that  a 
monarch  might  envy." 

He  paused,  for  there  was  a  light  tap  on  the  door,  and 
Flavia  entered.     She  bowed  to  the  doctor,  and,  with 


THE   DAY   OF   RECKONING  345 

the  graceful  movement  of  a  bird,  perched  herself  upon 
her  father's  knee,  and,  throwing  her  arms  round  his 
neck,  kissed  him  again  and  again. 

"  This  is  a  very  nice  little  preface,"  said  the  banker 
with  a  forced  smile.  "  The  favor  is  granted  in  ad- 
vance, for,  of  course,  this  means  that  you  have  come 
to  ask  one." 

The  girl  shook  her  head,  and  returned  in  the  tone 
of  one  addressing  a  naughty  child, — 

"  Oh,  you  bad  papa !  am  I  in  the  habit  of  selling  my 
kisses?  I  am  sure  that  I  have  only  to  ask  and  to 
have." 

"  Of  course  not,  only " 

"  I  came  to  tell  you  that  dinner  was  ready,  and  that 
Paul  and  I  are  both  very  hungry;  and  I  only  kissed 
you  because  I  loved  you ;  and  if  I  had  to  choose  a 
father  again,  out  of  the  whole  it  would  be  you." 

He  smiled  fondly. 

"  But  for  the  last  six  weeks,"  said  he,  "  you  have 
not  loved  me  so  well." 

"  No,"  returned  she  with  charming  simplicity,  "not 
for  so  long — nearly  for  fifteen  days  perhaps." 

"  And  yet  it  is  more  than  a  month  since  the  good 
doctor  brought  a  certain  young  man  to  dinner." 

Flavia  uttered  a  frank,  girlish  laugh. 

"  I  love  you  dearly,"  said  she,  "  but  especially  for  one 
thing." 

"  And  what  is  that,  pray?  " 

"  Ah !  that  is  the  secret ;  but  I  will  tell  it  you  for  all 
that.  It  is  only  within  the  last  fortnight  that  I  have 
found  out  how  really  good  you  have  been,  and  how 
much  trouble  you  took  in  bringing  Paul  to  me;  but 
to  think  that  you  should  have  to  put  on  those  ugly  old 
clothes,  that  nasty  beard  and  those  spectacles." 


346         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

At  these  words  the  banker  started  so  abruptly  to  his 
feet  that  Flavia  nearly  fell  to  the  ground. 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  this  ?  "  said  he. 

"  Do  you  suppose  a  daughter  does  not  know  her 
father?    You  might  deceive  others,  but  I " 

"  Flavia,  I  do  not  comprehend  your  meaning." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  tell  me,"  asked  she,  "  that  you  did 
not  come  to  Paul's  rooms  the  day  I  was  there  ?  " 

"  Are  you  crazy  ?    Listen  to  me." 

"  No,  I  will  not  ;■  you  must  not  tell  me  fibs.  I  am 
not  a  fool ;  and  when  you  went  out  with  the  doctor,  I 
listened  at  the  door,  and  I  heard  a  few  words  you  said ; 
and  that  isn't  all,  for  when  I  got  here,  I  hid  myself 
and  I  saw  you  come  into  this  room." 

"  But  you  said  nothing  to  any  one,  Flavia  ?  " 

"  No,  certainly  not." 

Rigal  breathed  a  sigh  of  relief. 

"  Of  course  I  do  not  count  Paul,"  continued  the 
girl,  "  for  he  is  the  same  as  myself." 

"  Unhappy  child !  "  exclaimed  the  banker  in  so  furi- 
ous a  voice,  and  with  such  a  threatening  gesture  of  the 
hand,  that  for  the  first  time  in  her  life  Flavia  was 
afraid  of  her  father. 

"  What  have  I  done  ?  "  asked  she,  the  tears  spring- 
ing to  her  eyes.  "  I  only  said  to  Paul  that  we  should 
be  terribly  ungrateful  if  we  did  not  worship  him ;  for 
you  don't  know  what  he  does  for  us.  Why,  he  even 
dresses  up  in  rags,  and  goes  to  see  you." 

Hortebise,  who  up  to  this  time  had  not  said  a  word, 
now  interfered. 

"  And  what  did  Paul  say  ?  "  asked  he. 

"  Paul  ?  Oh,  nothing  for  a  moment.  Then  he 
cried  out,  *  I  see  it  all  now,'  and  laughed  as  if  he 
would  have  gone  into  a  fit." 


THE   DAY   OF   RECKONING  347 

"  Did  you  not  understand,  my  poor  child,  what  this 
laugh  meant  ?  Paul  thinks  that  you  have  been  my  ac- 
complice, and  believes  that  it  was  in  obedience  to  your 
orders  that  I  went  to  look  for  him." 

"  Well,  and  suppose  he  does  ?  " 

"  A  man  like  Paul  never  loves  a  woman  who  has 
run  after  him;  and  no  matter  how  great  her  beauty 
may  be,  will  always  consider  that  she  has  thrown  her- 
self in  his  path.  He  will  accept  all  her  devotion,  and 
make  no  more  return  than  a  stone  or  a  wooden  idol 
would  do.  You  cannot  see  this,  and  God  grant  that 
it  may  be  long  before  the  bandage  is  removed  from 
your  eyes.  Can  you  not  read  the  quality  of  this 
foolish  boy,  who  has  not  a  manly  instinct  in  him  ?  " 

"  Enough !  "  she  cried,  "  enough !  I  am  not  such  a 
coward  as  to  allow  you  to  insult  my  husband." 

He  shuddered  at  the  thought  that  his  words  might 
cost  him  his  daughter's  love,  but  Hortebise  interposed 
by  putting  his  arm  round  Flavia's  waist  and  leading 
her  from  the  room.    When  he  returned,  he  observed, — 

"  I  cannot  understand  your  anger.  It  seems  to  me 
that  all  recrimination  is  most  indiscreet,  for  you  can 
at  any  moment  break  off  this  marriage." 

"  Do  you  think  it  nothing  for  me  to  be  at  the  mercy 
of  that  cowardly  wretch,  Paul  ?  " 

"  Not  more  so  than  you  are  by  the  foolish  weak- 
ness of  your  daughter.  Is  not  Paul  our  accomplice? 
and  are  we  any  more  compromised  because  he  has  dis- 
covered the  secret  of  your  triple  personality  ?  " 

"  Ah !  you  have  not  a  father's  feelings.  Up  till  now 
Paul  did  not  know  that  I  was  Mascarin,  and  believed 
me  to  be  the  victim  of  blackmailers.  As  a  dupe  he 
respected  me,  as  an  accomplice  he  will  scorn  me.  This 
disastrous  marriage  must  be  hastened." 


348         THE   CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

Paul  and  Flavia's  marriage  took  place  at  the  end 
of  the  next  week,  and  Paul  left  his  simple  bachelor 
abode  to  take  possession  of  the  magnificent  suite  of 
rooms  prepared  for  him  by  the  banker  in  his  house  in 
the  Rue  Montmartre.  The  change  was  great,  but 
Paul  was  no  longer  surprised  at  anything.  He  did 
not  feel  the  faintest  tinge  of  remorse ;  he  only  feared 
one  thing,  and  that  was  that  by  some  blunder  he  might 
compromise  his  future,  when  the  eventful  day  arrived 
which  would  give  him  the  social  position  and  stand- 
ing of  heir  to  a  dukedom. 

When,  however,  the  Duke  de  Champdoce  came,  ac- 
companied by  Perpignan,  the  young  impostor  rose  to 
the  level  of  his  masters,  and  played  his  part  with  most 
•consummate  skill.  The  Duke,  whose  life  had  been  one 
long  scene  of  misery,  and  who  had  so  cruelly  ex- 
piated the  sins  of  his  youth,  seemed  to  have  become 
suddenly  lenient ;  and  had  Paul  obeyed  him,  he  would 
at  once  have  established  himself  with  his  young  wife 
at  the  Hotel  de  Champdoce,  but  Martin  Rigal  put  a 
veto  upon  this,  for  he  was  not  quite  satisfied  that  his 
son-in-law  was  really  the  heir  to  the  Champdoce  duke- 
dom ;  and  finally  it  was  agreed  that  the  Duke  should 
come  to  breakfast  the  next  morning  and  take  away 
Paul.  Eleven  was  the  hour  fixed,  but  the  Duke  ap- 
peared at  the  banker's  house  at  ten,  where  he.  Catenae, 
Hortebise,  and  Paul  were  assembled  together  in  sol- 
emn conclave. 

"  Now,  papa,"  said  Flavia,  who  kept  her  father  on 
thorns  by  her  gay  and  frolicsome  criticisms,  "  you  will 
no  longer  blame  me  for  falling  in  love  with  a  poor 
Bohemian,  for  you  see  that  he  is  a  Champdoce,  and 
that  his  father  possesses  millions." 


THE   DAY   OF   RECKONING  349 

The  Duke  was  now  seated  on  the  sofa,  holding  the 
hand  of  the  young  man  whom  he  beUeved  to  be  his 
son  tightly  in  his.  The  Duchess,  to  whom  he  had 
given  a  hint  of  what  was  going  on,  had  been  taken 
seriously  ill  from  over-excitement,  but  had  recovered 
herself  a  little,  and  the  Duke  was  describing  this  when 
he  was  suddenly  interrupted  by  a  series  of  dull  and 
heavy  blows  struck  upon  the  other  side  of  the  wall  of 
the  room.  A  pickaxe  was  evidently  at  work.  The 
whole  house  was  shaken  by  the  violence  of  the  attack, 
and  a  screen,  which  stood  near  the  spot,  was  thrown 
down. 

The  plotters  gazed  upon  each  other  with  pale  and 
terror-stricken  faces,  for  it  was  evident  that  the  fresh 
brick  wall,  the  work  of  Mascarin  and  Beaumarchef, 
was  being  destroyed.  The  Duke  sat  in  perfect  amaze- 
ment, for  the  alarm  of  his  host  and  his  friends  was 
plainly  evident.  He  could  feel  Paul's  hand  tremble  in 
his,  but  could  not  understand  why  work  evidently  go- 
ing on  in  the  next  house  could  cause  such  feelings 
of  alarm.  Flavia  was  the  only  one  who  had  no  sus- 
picion, and  she  remarked,  "  Dear  me !  I  should  like 
to  know  the  meaning  of  this  disturbance." 

"  I  will  send  and  inquire,"  said  her  father ;  but 
scarcely  had  he  opened  the  door  than  he  retreated  with 
a  wild  expression  of  terror  in  his  face,  and  his  arms 
stretched  out  in  front  of  him,  as  though  to  bar  the 
approach  of  some  terrible  spectre.  In  the  doorway 
stood  an  eminently  respectable-looking  gentleman, 
wearing  a  pair  of  gold-rimmed  spectacles,  and  behind 
him  a  commissary  of  police,  girt  with  his  official  scarf^ 
while  farther  back  still  were  half  a  dozen  police 
officers. 


350         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

"  M.  Lecoq,"  cried  the  three  confederates  in  one 
breath,  while  through  their  minds  flashed  the  same 
terrible  idea — "  We  are  lost." 

The  celebrated  detective  advanced  slowly  into  the 
room,  curiously  watching  the  group  collected  there. 
There  was  an  air  of  entire  satisfaction  visible  on  his 
countenance. 

"  Aha !  "  he  said,  "  I  was  right,  it  seems.  I  was 
sure  that  I  was  making  no  mistake  in  rapping  at  the 
other  side  of  the  wall.  I  knew  that  it  would  be  heard 
in  here." 

By  this  time,  however,  the  banker  had,  to  all  out- 
ward appearance,  regained  his  self-command. 

"  What  do  you  want  here  ? "  asked  he  insolently. 
"  What  is  the  meaning  of  this  intrusion  ?  " 

"  This  gentleman  will  explain,"  returned  Lecoq, 
stepping  aside  to  make  way  for  the  commissary  of 
police  to  come  forward.  "  But,  to  shorten  matters,  I 
may  tell  you  that  I  have  obtained  a  warrant  for  your 
arrest,  Martin  Rigal,  alias  Tantaine,  alias  Mascarin." 

"  I  don't  understand  you  !  " 

"  Indeed.  Do  you  think  that  Tantaine  has  cleaned 
his  hands  so  completely  that  not  a  drop  of  Andre's 
blood  clings  to  the  fingers  of  Martin  Rigal  ?  " 

"  On  my  word,  you  are  speaking  in  riddles." 

A  bland  smile  passed  over  Lecoq's  face  as,  drawing 
a  folded  letter  from  his  pocket,  he  answered, — 

"  Perhaps  you  are  acquainted  with  the  handwrit- 
ing of  your  daughter.  Well,  then,  listen  to  what 
she  wrote  not  so  very  long  ago  to  the  very  Paul  who 
is  sitting  on  the  sofa  there. 

"  *  My  Dearest  Paul, — 

"  '  We  should  be  guilty  of  the  deepest  ingratitude 
if ' " 


•THE   DAY   OF   RECKONING  351 

"  Enough !  enough !  "  cried  the  banker  in  a  hoarse 
voice.  "  Lost,  lost,  lost !  My  own  child  has  been  my 
ruin ! " 

The  calmest  of  the  conspirators  was  now  the  one 
who  was  generally  the  first  to  take  alarm,  and  this 
was  the  genial  Doctor  Hortebise.  When  he  recog- 
nized Lecoq,  he  had  gently  opened  his  locket  and 
taken  from  it  a  small  pellet  of  grayish-colored  paste, 
and,  holding  it  between  his  fingers,  had  waited  until 
his  leader  should  declare  that  all  hope  was  gone. 

In  the  meantime  Lecoq  turned  towards  Catenae. 

"  And  you  too  are  included  in  this  warrant,"  said  he. 

Catenae,  perhaps  owing  to  his  legal  training,  made 
no  reply  to  Lecoq,  but  addressing  the  commissary, 
observed, — 

"  I  am  the  victim  of  a  most  unpleasant  mistake,  but 
my  position " 

"  The  warrant  is  quite  regular,"  returned  the  com- 
missary.   "  You  can  see  it  if  you  desire." 

"  No,  it  is  not  necessary.  I  will  only  ask  you  to 
conduct  me  to  the  magistrate  who  issued  it,  and  in 
five  minutes  all  will  be  explained." 

"  Do  you  think  so  ?  "  asked  Lecoq  in  a  quiet  tone  of 
sarcasm.  "  You  have  not  heard,  I  can  see,  of  what 
took  place  yesterday.  A  laborer,  in  the  course  of  his 
work,  discovers  the  remains  of  a  newly-born  infant, 
wrapped  in  a  silk  handkerchief  and  a  shawl.  The 
police  soon  set  inquiries  on  foot,  and  have  found  the 
mother — a  girl  named  Clarisse." 

Had  not  Lecoq  suddenly  grasped  Catenae's  arm,  the 
lawyer  would  have  flown  at  Martin  Rigal's  throat. 

"  Villain,  traitor !  "  panted  he,  "  you  have  sold  me !  " 

"  My  papers  have  been  stolen,"  faltered  the  banker. 

He  now  saw  that  the  blows  struck  upon  the  other 


352         THE   CHAAIPDOCE   MYSTERY 

side  of  the  wall  were  merely  a  trick,  for  Lecoq  had 
thought  that  a  little  preliminary  fright  would  render 
them  more  amenable  to  reason. 

Hortebise  still  looked  on  calmly;  he  knew  that  the 
game  was  lost. 

"  I  belong  to  a  respectable  family,"  thoughi  he, 
"and  I  will  not  bring  dishonor  upon  it.  I  have  no 
time  to  lose." 

As  he  spoke  he  placed  the  contents  of  the  locket 
between  his  lips  and  swallowed  them. 

"  Ah,"  murmured  he,  as  he  did  so,  "  with  my  consti- 
tution and  digestion,  it  is  really  hard  to  end  thus." 

No  one  had  noticed  the  doctor's  movements,  for  Le- 
coq had  moved  the  screen,  and  was  showing  the  com- 
missary a  hole  which  had  been  made  in  the  wall  large 
enough  for  the  body  of  a  man  to  pass  through.  But 
a  sudden  sound  cut  these  investigations  short,  for 
Hortebise  had  fallen  to  the  ground,  and  was  strug- 
gling in  a  series  of  terrible  convulsions. 

"  How  stupid  of  me  not  to  have  foreseen  this,"  ex- 
claimed Lecoq.  "  He  has  poisoned  himself ;  let  some 
one  run  for  a  doctor.  Take  him  into  another  room 
and  lay  him  on  a  bed." 

While  these  orders  were  being  carried  out.  Catenae 
was  removed  to  a  cab  which  was  in  waiting,  and  Mar- 
tin Rigal  seemed  to  have  lapsed  into  a  state  of  moody 
imbecility.     Suddenly  he  started  to  his  feet,  crying, — 

"  My  daughter  Flavia !  yes,  her  name  is  Flavia,  what 
is  to  become  of  her?  She  has  no  fortune,  and  she  is 
married  to  a  man  v/ho  can  never  provide  for  her.  My 
child  will  perhaps  starve.    Oh,  horrible  thought !  " 

The  man's  strong  mind  had  evidently  given  way, 
and  his  love  for  his  child  and  the  hideous  future  that 
lay  before  her  had  broken  down  the  barrier  that  di- 


"EVERY   MAN   TO   HIS   OWN  PLACE"  353 

vides  reason  from  insanity.  He  was  secured  by  the 
officers,  raving  and  struggling.  When  Lecoq  was  left 
alone  with  the  Duke,  Paul  and  Flavia,  he  cast  a 
glimpse  of  pity  at  the  young  girl,  who  had  crouched 
down  in  a  corner,  and  evidently  hardly  understood  the 
terrible  scene  that  had  just  passed. 

"  Your  Grace,"  said  he,  turning  to  the  Duke,  "  you 
have  been  the  victim  of  a  foul  conspiracy;  this  young 
man  is  not  your  son;  he  is  Paul  Violaine,  and  is  the 
son  of  a  poor  woman  who  kept  a  petty  haberdashery 
shop  in  the  provinces." 

The  miserable  young  fool  began  to  bluster,  and  at- 
tempted to  deny  this  statement ;  but  Lecoq  opened 
the  door,  and  Rose  appeared  in  a  most  becoming 
costume.  Paul  now  made  no  effort  to  continue  his 
protestations,  but  throwing  himself  on  his  knees,  in 
whining  accents  confessed  the  whole  fraud  and 
pleaded  for  mercy,  promising  to  give  evidence  against 
his  accomplices. 

"  Do  not  despair,  your  Grace,"  said  Lecoq,  as  he 
conducted  the  Duke  to  his  carriage ;  "  this  certainly  is 
not  your  son ;  but  /  have  found  him,  and  to-morrow,  if 
you  like,  you  shall  be  introduced  to  him." 


CHAPTER   XXXV. 
"every  man  to  his  own  place." 

Obedient  to  the  wishes  of  M.  Lecoq,  Andre  re- 
signed himself  to  a  lengthy  sojourn  at  the  Hospital  de 
Beaujon,  and  had  even  the  courage  to  affect  that  state 
of  profound  indifference  that  had  deceived  Mascarin. 
The  pretended  sick  man  in  the  next  bed  to  his  told  him 
all  that  had  taken  place,  but  the  days  seemed  to  be  in- 


3S4         THE   CHAMPDOCE    MYSTERY 

terminable,  and  he  was  beginning  to  lose  patience, 
when  one  morning  he  received  a  letter  which  caused 
a  gleam  of  joy  to  pass  through  his  heart.  "  All  is 
right,"  wrote  Lecoq.  "  Danger  is  at  an  end.  Ask  the 
house  surgeon  for  leave  to  quit  the  hospital.  Dress 
yourself  smartly.  You  will  find  me  waiting  at  the 
doors. — L." 

Andre  was  not  quite  convalescent,  for  he  might  have 
to  wear  his  arm  in  a  sling  for  many  weeks  longer ;  but 
these  considerations  did  not  deter  him.  He  now 
dressed  himself  in  a  suit  which  he  had  sent  for  to  his 
rooms,  and  about  nine  o'clock  he  left  the  hospital. 

He  stood  upon  the  steps  inhaling  deep  draughts 
of  the  fresh  air,  and  then  began  to  wonder  where  the 
strange  personage  was  to  whom  he  owed  his  life. 
While  he  was  deliberating  what  to  do,  an  open  car- 
riage drew  up  before  the  door  of  the  hospital. 

"  You  have  come  at  last,"  exclaimed  Andre,  rush- 
ing up  to  the  gentleman  who  alighted  from  it.  "  I 
was  getting  quite  anxious." 

"  I  am  about  five  minutes  late,"  returned  Lecoq ; 
"but  I  was  detained,"  and  then,  as  Andre  began  to 
pour  out  his  thanks,  he  added,  "  Get  into  the  carriage ; 
I  have  a  great  deal  to  say  to  you." 

Andre  obeyed,  and  as  he  did  so,  he  detected  some- 
thing strange  in  the  expression  of  his  companion's 
face. 

"  What !  "  remarked  Lecoq,  "  do  you  see  by  my  face 
that  I  have  something  to  tell  you?  You  are  getting 
quite  a  keen  observer.  Well,  I  have,  indeed,  for  I 
have  passed  the  night  going  through  Mascarin's 
papers,  and  I  have  just  gone  through  a  painful  scene 
— I  may  say,  one  of  the  most  painful  that  I  have  ever 


"EVERY   MAN    TO   HIS   OWN  PLACE"  355 

witnessed.  The  intellect  of  Mascarin,"  said  he,  "  has 
given  way  under  the  tremendous  pressure  put  upon  it. 
The  ruling  passion  of  the  villain's  life  was  his  love 
for  his  daughter.  He  imagines  that  Flavia  and  Paul 
are  without  a  franc  and  in  want  of  bread;  he  thinks 
that  he  continually  hears  his  daughter  crying  to  him 
for  help.  Then,  on  his  knees,  he  entreats  the  warder 
to  let  him  out,  if  only  for  a  day,  swearing  that  he 
will  return  as  soon  as  he  has  succored  his  child.  Then, 
when  his  prayer  is  refused,  he  bursts  into  a  frenzied 
rage  and  tears  at  his  door,  howling  like  an  infuriated 
animal ;  and  this  state  may  last  to  the  end  of  his  life, 
and  every  minute  in  it  be  a  space  of  intolerable  tor- 
ture. Doctor  Hortebise  is  dead ;  but  the  poison  upon 
which  he  relied  betrayed  him,  and  he  suffered  agonies 
for  twenty-four  hours.  Catenae  will  fight  to  the  bit- 
ter end,  but  the  proofs  are  clear  against  him,  and  he 
will  be  convicted  of  infanticide.  In  Rigal's  papers  I 
have  found  evidence  against  Perpignan,  Verminet  and 
Van  Klopen,  who  will  all  certainly  hear  something 
about  penal  servitude.  Nothing  has  been  settled  yet 
about  Toto  Chupin,  for  it  must  be  remembered  that  he 
came  and  gave  himself  up." 

"  And  what  about  Croisenois  ?  " 

"  His  Company  will  be  treated  like  any  other  at- 
tempt to  extort  money  by  swindling,  and  the  Mar- 
quis will  be  sent  to  prison  for  two  months,  and  the 
money  paid  for  shares  returned  to  the  dupes,  and  that, 
I  think,  is  all  that  I  have  to  tell  you,  except  that  by 
to-morrow  M.  Gandelu  will  receive  back  the  bills  to 
which,  his  son  affixed  a  forged  signature.  And  now," 
continued  Lecoq,  after  a  short  pause,  "  the  time  has 
come  for  me  to  tell  you  why,  at  our  first  interview,  I 


356         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

saluted  you  as  the  heir  of  the  Duke  de  Champdoce.  I 
had  guessed  your  history,  but  it  was  only  last  night  I 
heard  all  the  details." 

Then  the  detective  gave  a  brief  but  concise  ac- 
count of  the  manuscript  that  Paul  had  read  aloud.  He 
did  not  tell  much,  however,  but  passed  lightly  over  the 
acts  of  the  Duke  de  Champdoce  and  Madame  de  Mus- 
sidan,  for  he  did  not  wish  Andre  to  cease  to  respect 
either  his  father  or  the  mother  of  Sabine,  The  story 
was  just  concluded  as  the  carriage  drew  up  at  the 
corner  of  the  Rue  de  Matignon. 

"  Get  down  here,"  said  Lecoq,  "  and  mind  and  don't 
hurt  your  arm." 

Andre  obeyed  mechanically. 

"  And  now,"  went  on  Lecoq,  "  listen  to  me.  The 
Count  and  Countess  de  Mussidan  expect  you  to  break- 
fast, and  here  is  the  note  they  handed  to  me  for  you. 
Come  back  to  your  studio  by  four  o'clock,  and  I  will 
then  introduce  you  to  your  father;  but  till  then,  re- 
member, absolute  silence." 

Andre  was  completely  bewildered  with  his  unex- 
pected happiness.  He  walked  instinctively  to  the  Ho- 
tel de  Mussidan  and  rang  the  bell.  The  intense  civil- 
ity of  the  footmen  removed  any  misgivings  that  he 
might  have  felt,  and,  as  he  entered  the  dining-room,  he 
darted  back,  for  face  to  face  with  him  was  the  por- 
trait of  Sabine  which  he  had  himself  painted.  At 
that  moment  the  Count  came  forward  to  meet  him 
with  extended  hands. 

"  Diana,"  said  he  to  his  wife,  "  this  is  our  daugh- 
ter's future  husband."  He  then  took  Sabine's  hand, 
which  he  laid  in  Andre's. 

The  young  artist  hardly  dared  raise  his  eyes  to 
Sabine's  face;  when  he  did  so,  his  heart  grew  very 


"EVERY   MAN   TO   HIS   OWN  PLACE"  357 

sad,  for  the  poor  girl  was  but  the  shadow  of  her 
former  self. 

"  You  have  suffered  terribly,"  said  he  tenderly. 

"  Yes,"  answered  she,  "  and  I  should  have  died  had 
it  lasted  much  longer." 

Andre  had  the  greatest  difficulty  in  refraining  from 
telling  his  secret  to  his  beloved,  and  it  was  with  even 
more  difficulty  that  he  tore  himself  away  at  half-past 
three. 

He  had  not  been  five  minutes  in  his  studio  when 
there  was  a  knock  at  the  door,  and  Lecoq  entered, 
followed  by  an  elderly  gentleman  of  aristocratic  and 
haughty  appearance.    It  was  the  Duke  de  Champdoce. 

"  This  gentleman,"  said  the  Duke,  with  a  gesture  of 
his  hand  towards  Lecoq,  "  will  have  told  you  that  cer- 
tain circumstances  rendered  it  expedient,  according  to 
my  ideas,  that  I  should  not  acknowledge  you  as  my 
heir,  but  my  son.  The  fault  that  I  then  committed  has 
been  cruelly  expiated.  I  am  not  forty-eight;  look  at 
me. 

The  Duke  looked  at  least  sixty. 

"  My  sins,"  continued  the  Duke,  "  still  pursue  me. 
To-day,  in  spite  of  all  my  desires,  I  cannot  claim  you 
as  my  legitimate  son,  for  the  law  only  permits  me  to 
give  you  my  name  and  fortune  by  exercising  the 
right  of  adoption." 

Andre  made  no  reply,  and  the  Duke  went  on  with 
evident  hesitation, — 

"  You  can  certainly  institute  proceedings  against  me 
for  the  recovery  of  your  rights,  but " 

"  Ah !  "  interrupted  the  young  man,  "  really,  what 
sort  of  person  do  you  think  I  am  ?  Do  you  believe  me 
capable  of  dishonoring  your  name  before  I  assumed 
it?" 


$58         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

The  Duke  drew  a  deep  breath  of  relief.  Andre's 
manner  had  checked  and  restrained  him,  for  it  was 
frigid  and  glacial  to  a  degree.  What  a  difference 
there  was  between  the  haughty  mien  of  Andre  and  the 
gushing  effusiveness  of  Paul! 

"  Will  you  permit  me,"  asked  Andre,  "  to  address 
a  few  words  to  you?" 

"A  few  words?" 

"  Yes.  I  did  not  like  to  use  the  word  *  conditions/ 
but  I  think  that  you  will  understand  what  I  mean.  My 
daily  toil  for  bread  gave  me  neither  the  means  nor 
leisure  which  I  required  to  cultivate  my  art,  for  that  is 
a  profession  that  I  could  never  give  up." 

"  You  will  be  certainly  your  own  master." 

Andre  paused,  as  if  to  reflect. 

"  This  is  not  all  I  had  to  say,"  he  continued  at  last. 
"  I  love  and  am  loved  by  a  pure  and  beautiful  girl ; 
our  marriage  is  arranged,  and  I  think " 

"  I  think,"  broke  in  the  Duke,  "  that  you  could  not 
love  any  one  who  was  not  a  fit  bride  for  a  member 
of  our  family." 

"  But  I  did  not  belong  to  this  family  yesterday.  Be 
at  ease,  however,  for  she  is  w^orthy  of  a  Champdoce. 
I  am  engaged  to  Sabine  de  Mussidan." 

A  deadly  paleness  overspread  the  Duke's  face  as  he 
heard  this  name. 

"  Never,"  said  he.  "  Never ;  I  would  rather  see  you 
dead  at  my  feet." 

"  And  I  would  gladly  suffer  ten  thousand  deaths 
sooner  than  give  her  up." 

"  Suppose  I  refuse  my  consent  ?  Suppose  that  I 
forbid ?" 

"  You  have  no  claim  to  exercise  paternal  authority 
over  me ;  this  can  only  be  purchased  by  years  of  tender 


"EVERY   MAN   TO   HIS   OWN  PLACE"  359 

care.  Duke  de  Champdoce,  I  owe  you  nothing.  Leave 
me  to  myself,  as  you  have  hitherto  done,  and  all  will 
be  simplified." 

The  Duke  reflected.  Must  he  give  up  his  son,  who 
had  been  restored  to  him  by  such  a  series  of  almost 
miraculous  chances,  or  must  he  see  him  married  to 
Diana's  daughter  ?  Either  alternative  appeared  to  him 
to  be  equally  disagreeable. 

"  I  will  not  yield  on  the  point,"  said  he.  "  Besides, 
the  Countess  would  never  give  her  consent.  She 
hates  me  as  much  as  I  hate  her." 

M.  Lecoq,  who  had  up  to  this  moment  looked  on  in 
silence,  now  thought  it  time  to  interpose. 

"  I  think,"  remarked  he  blandly,  "  that  I  shall  have 
no  difficulty  in  obtaining  the  consent  of  Madame  de 
Mussidan." 

The  Duke,  at  these  words,  threw  open  his  arms. 

"  Come,  my  son !  "  said  he.  "  All  shall  be  as  you  de- 
sire." 

That  night  Marie,  Duchess  de  Champdoce,  experi- 
enced happiness  for  the  first  time  in  the  affection  and 
caresses  of  a  son  who  had  been  so  long  lost  to  her, 
and  seemed  to  throw  off  the  heavy  burden  that 
had  so  heavily  pressed  her  down  beneath  its  own 
weight. 

When  Madame  de  Mussidan  heard  that  Andre  was 
Norbert's  son,  she  declared  that  nothing  would  induce 
her  to  give  her  consent  to  his  marriage  with  her 
daughter;  but  among  Mascarin's  papers  Lecoq  had 
discovered  the  packet  containing  the  compromising 
correspondence  between  the  Duke  de  Champdoce  and 
herself.  The  detective  handed  this  over  to  her,  and, 
in  her  gratitude,  she  promised  to  give  up  all  further 
opposition  to  the  match. 


36o         THE   CHAMPDOCE   MYSTERY 

Lecoq  always  denied  that  this  act  came  under  the 
head  of  blackmailing. 

Andre  and  Sabine  took  up  their  residence  after 
marriage  at  the  Chateau  de  Mussidan,  which  had  been 
magnificently  restored  and  decorated.  They  seldom 
leave  it,  for  they  love  it  for  its  vicinity  to  the  leafy 
groves,  in  which  they  first  learned  that  they  had  given 
their  hearts  to  each  other.  And  Andre  frequently 
points  out  the  unfinished  work  on  the  balcony,  which 
was  the  occasion  of  his  first  visit  to  the  Chateau  de 
Mussidan.  He  says  that  he  will  complete  it  as  soon 
as  he  has  time,  but  it  is  doubtful  whether  he  will  ever 
find  leisure  to  do  this  for  a  long  time,  for  before  the 
new  year  comes  there  is  every  chance  of  there  being  a 
baptism  at  the  little  chapel  at  Bevron. 


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